GILAS Pilipinas heads back home for the final game of Window 1 of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 Asian Qualifiers against Guam. The match will be held at the Blue Eagle Gym which will be hosting an international competition for the first since its refurbishment.
Let’s look back at the first game, and why three-point shooting will be vital for Gilas moving forward.
PHILIPPINES VS. GUAM
When: Monday, December 1. 7:30 p.m.
Where: Blue Eagle Gym
Gilas goes for sweep
Gilas Pilipinas hopes to wrap up its home-and-away series against Guam with another victory on Monday night. The Nationals posted an 87-46 win over Guam last Friday on the road to begin the World Cup qualifiers on a high note.
READ: QMB solid in debut as Gilas posts 41-point away win over Guam
Gilas outclasses Guam on the boards
The first game of Quentin Millora-Brown in a Gilas uniform was a success after he helped his team haul a record 61 rebounds against Guam. June Mar Fajardo also bolstered Gilas’ cause by also grabbing 10 rebounds in the victory. If the trend continues, it could be another easy win for Gilas Pilipinas at its home court.
READ: Thanks to Fajardo and QMB, Gilas sets a new rebounding record
Slight change for Guam
With Guam needing reinforcement inside, it made a small tweak to its roster by putting in 6-foot-7 Ben Borja II in lieu of guard Kirston Guzman.
Borja had paltry numbers during the FIBA Asia Cup 2025 when he averaged 1.0 points, 2.8 rebounds, but once registered 10.2 points and 6.6 rebounds in the Pacific Games: Tournament for Men in 2023.
At this point, Guam needs all the help it can get especially with the rebound disparity in the last game.
READ: Guam adds size to 12-man lineup for rematch with Gilas
Containing Jericho Cruz
As shown in the first game, Jericho Cruz can make a major impact for Guam when he scored 15 points in the first half, and his team only down 11 at the half. But as seen in the second half, Guam unraveled when Cruz only had two points during that stretch that led to the 41-point defeat by his team.
READ: Cone turns to good ol' Scottie to cool down red-hot Jericho Cruz
Three-point shooting needs improvement
If there is something to nit-pick about Gilas Pilipinas’ win, it’s their outside shooting. The Nationals only shot 4-of-16 from threes in the win over Guam. Outside shooting will be important to Gilas’ campaign in the World Cup qualifiers especially when they face the tougher teams in Australia and New Zealand in the group stage.
Both teams combined for 20 threes in their clash last Friday.
Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph
NOTICE ON UNAUTHORIZED AND UNLAWFUL USE, PUBLICATION, AND/OR DISSEMINATION OF SPIN.PH CONTENT: Please be notified that any unauthorized and unlawful use, publication, and/or dissemination of Spin.ph’s content and/or materials is a direct violation of its legal and exclusive rights to the same, and shall be subject to appropriate legal action/s.
