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Tim Cone: Guam Games Are 'Make-Or-Break' For Gilas' World Cup Hopes
Photo credit: PBA
Gilas Pilipinas is heading to Guam with a clear mission: win—because losing is not an option, according to head coach Tim Cone.
Speaking before the team’s departure just past midnight on November 26, Cone emphasized that the upcoming back-to-back games against Guam are the most crucial matchups of their 2027 FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers run.
“We don't win these two games, all of our goals are dashed. That's how crucial these two games are,” Cone said.
Gilas is grouped with regional heavyweights Australia and New Zealand in Group A. With only three teams advancing to the next round, Cone said their chances hinge on beating Guam.
"If we can't get Guam and then we had to play New Zealand and Australia, we can't get to that third spot even to advance to the second round,” he explained. “So these two games, to me, are the most important games we play in the whole qualifiers.”
The team wrapped up a multi-location training camp at the Blue Eagle Gym, Inspire Sports Academy in Laguna, and The Upper Deck in Ortigas before taking a short break ahead of the trip.
The roster is led by Justin Brownlee, with Scottie Thompson, Japeth Aguilar, RJ Abarrientos, June Mar Fajardo, CJ Perez, Chris Newsome, Dwight Ramos, Carl Tamayo, Kevin Quiambao, AJ Edu, and Quentin Millora-Brown completing the squad.
Joining the delegation are assistant coaches Jong Uichico, Richard del Rosario, Josh Reyes, and LA Tenorio, along with Gilas Pilipinas project director Alfrancis Chua, PBA commissioner Willie Marcial, and SBP executive director Erika Dy.
For Gilas, the assignment is simple but heavy: sweep Guam or watch their World Cup hopes fade early.
Speaking before the team’s departure just past midnight on November 26, Cone emphasized that the upcoming back-to-back games against Guam are the most crucial matchups of their 2027 FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers run.
“We don't win these two games, all of our goals are dashed. That's how crucial these two games are,” Cone said.
Gilas is grouped with regional heavyweights Australia and New Zealand in Group A. With only three teams advancing to the next round, Cone said their chances hinge on beating Guam.
"If we can't get Guam and then we had to play New Zealand and Australia, we can't get to that third spot even to advance to the second round,” he explained. “So these two games, to me, are the most important games we play in the whole qualifiers.”
The team wrapped up a multi-location training camp at the Blue Eagle Gym, Inspire Sports Academy in Laguna, and The Upper Deck in Ortigas before taking a short break ahead of the trip.
The roster is led by Justin Brownlee, with Scottie Thompson, Japeth Aguilar, RJ Abarrientos, June Mar Fajardo, CJ Perez, Chris Newsome, Dwight Ramos, Carl Tamayo, Kevin Quiambao, AJ Edu, and Quentin Millora-Brown completing the squad.
Joining the delegation are assistant coaches Jong Uichico, Richard del Rosario, Josh Reyes, and LA Tenorio, along with Gilas Pilipinas project director Alfrancis Chua, PBA commissioner Willie Marcial, and SBP executive director Erika Dy.
For Gilas, the assignment is simple but heavy: sweep Guam or watch their World Cup hopes fade early.
Nov 25, 2025
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