Gilas Pilipinas may have found its rhythm at a crucial point in the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 Asian Qualifiers. But one question remains: did it come too late?
The Philippines completed a crucial Window 4 sweep. Gilas defeated Jordan, 82-81, before beating Iran, 68-56, at the Mall of Asia Arena.
The two wins pushed Gilas to a 4-4 record in Group E. More importantly, they kept the Philippines’ World Cup hopes alive.
Gilas Still Has Ground to Cover
Despite the strong finish, Gilas remains fifth in the group. Iran and Jordan are both at 5-3.
That leaves the Philippines just one win behind the teams currently in third and fourth place.
The timing of the turnaround makes the situation more complicated. Gilas struggled in the earlier windows. Those results have left the team with little room for mistakes.
Momentum Comes at the Right Time
Still, Gilas has shown that it can compete under pressure.
Against Jordan, the Philippines escaped with an overtime victory. The team then overcame an early 18-7 deficit against Iran.
Gilas eventually pulled away in the second half to secure the 68-56 win.
Kai Sotto has also emerged as an important piece of the team’s campaign. Against Iran, he recorded 13 points and 16 rebounds.
Juan Gomez de Liaño and Dwight Ramos also added 16 points each.
Two Windows Remain
Gilas still has two qualifying windows to make its push.
The remaining windows are scheduled for November 2026 and February 2027. The top three teams in each group will qualify for the World Cup. The best fourth-place team will also advance, alongside host Qatar.
That leaves the Philippines with a chance to climb the standings.
Is It Too Late?
Not yet.
But after starting 4-4, Gilas can no longer afford to treat every game as just another qualifier.
The Window 4 sweep gave the Philippines valuable momentum. The challenge now is to maintain it.
Gilas has given itself another chance. Now, it has to make it count.
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