Gilas drawn with Australia, New Zealand, Guam in FIBA World Cup qualifiers

Metro Manila, Philippines - Gilas Pilipinas has been drawn with Australia, New Zealand, and Guam in Group A of the 2027 FIBA World Cup Asian qualifiers.

Australia ranks the highest in the Asia-Pacific at world No. 7, while New Zealand is world No. 22 and Guam sits at world No. 88.

The world No. 34 Philippines needs to finish in the top 3 of the group in a double round-robin, home-and-away format across six windows to advance to the next round of the qualifiers.

Gilas and New Zealand are already familiar with one another as they were also grouped together in the FIBA Asia Cup 2025 qualifiers, where they split their two matches at 1-1.

The Philippines and Australia will meet for the first time since their infamous on-court brawl at the Philippine Arena in Bulacan in a 2019 FIBA World Cup Asian qualifiers game back in July 2018.

A local talent will be bannering Guam as PBA player Jericho Cruz is expected to suit up for the US island territory.

Group B consists of Japan, China, South Korea, and Chinese Taipei, while Group C is composed of Iran, Jordan, Syria, and Iraq. Meanwhile, Group D features Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, India, and host country Qatar.

The three qualified teams from Group A will battle the top three squads in Group C in the second round.

Gilas — aiming for a fourth straight World Cup appearance — will open its first window campaign against New Zealand on the road on November 28 then at home on December 1.