Metro Manila, Philippines – Mike Phillips has been tapped to bolster the Gilas Pilipinas frontline in the third window of the 2027 FIBA Basketball World Cup Asian qualifiers in July.
The former La Salle standout and UAAP Season 88 Finals Most Valuable Player will fill in the shoes of Kai Sotto and Quentin Millora-Brown who are not listed in the final roster released by the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas on Thursday, June 18.
This will be the first time Phillips will suit up for Gilas as a local player. He represented the country in the 2023 Southeast Asian Games in Cambodia, where the Philippines bagged the gold medal.
Also part of the lineup are the Ginebra core of Justin Brownlee, RJ Abarrientos, Scottie Thompson, and Troy Rosario who are fresh from winning the PBA Commissioner’s Cup title.
Completing the national team are June Mar Fajardo, Dwight Ramos, Kevin Quiambao, Chris Newsome, Carl Tamayo, Justine Baltazar, and AJ Edu.
The Philippines, which currently holds a 2-2 win-loss record tied for second place in Group A, will face New Zealand on July 3 in Auckland, then battle Australia on July 6 in Perth.
