Gilas faces familiar rivals as fourth window of World Cup qualifiers takes shape 

The road to the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 is entering its most demanding stage for Gilas Pilipinas.

With the completion of the third window of the Asian Qualifiers, the six-team field for Group E is now officially set. The Philippines will carry its campaign into the second round alongside Australia and New Zealand from Group A, while West Asian powers Iran, Jordan, and Syria advance from Group C.

Australia topped Group A to secure the No. 1 seed, followed by New Zealand and Gilas Pilipinas. Iran, meanwhile, claimed first place in Group C with a 5-1 record, edging Jordan for the top spot via the head-to-head tiebreaker after defeating the Falcons, 67-49, in Amman to open the third window.

Because results from the first round carry over, Gilas enters the next phase with a 2-4 record, making every remaining game crucial in its bid to reach the World Cup in Qatar.

The fourth qualifying window, expected to be held at the SM Mall of Asia Arena, presents the Filipinos with immediate opportunities for redemption. Gilas is scheduled to host Jordan on August 28 before taking on Iran on August 30. The national team then travels to face Syria on November 27 in the fifth window.

The matchup against Jordan revives a rivalry that most recently favored the Falcons.

The two nations last met at the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Riga in July 2024, where Jordan defeated the Philippines, 74-66. 

Despite both teams already being out of semifinal contention, Jordan controlled much of the contest behind its disciplined defense, while Gilas struggled to generate consistent offense. The loss denied the Filipinos a winning finish in their Olympic qualifying campaign, giving Tim Cone’s squad added motivation heading into the August rematch.

Iran, on the other hand, brings back memories of one of the biggest victories in recent Philippine basketball history.

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Their last official meeting came in the 2023 Asian Games quarterfinals in Hangzhou, where Gilas pulled off a stunning 84-83 comeback victory. 

Trailing by double digits in the fourth quarter, the Filipinos stormed back behind Justin Brownlee, who delivered the game-winning basket with seconds remaining to eliminate the heavily favored Iranians. The victory ignited the Philippines’ historic run that eventually ended with its first Asian Games men’s basketball gold medal in 61 years, making the August showdown another highly anticipated chapter in the rivalry.

The November clash against Syria will be a meeting of teams that have not crossed paths in nearly a decade.

The Philippines last faced Syria at the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta, cruising to a dominant 109-55 victory in the classification round behind an explosive performance from NBA veteran Jordan Clarkson. 

Prior to that, their previous major tournament encounter came during the 2011 FIBA Asia Championship, underscoring how rare meetings between the two countries have become in recent years. The long gap adds another layer of intrigue when they finally square off again later this year.

While the opponents each carry different storylines, the stakes remain the same.

The second round consists of six additional games, with the top three teams in Group E automatically qualifying for the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027. The best fourth-place finisher between the two second-round groups will also secure a World Cup berth alongside host Qatar.

For Gilas Pilipinas, the next three windows will be more than a fight for qualification. They offer a chance to avenge a recent defeat to Jordan, renew a growing rivalry with Iran after a memorable Asian Games classic, and reconnect with Syria in a matchup that has been absent from the international calendar for years.

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