For Gilas Pilipinas, the road to Auckland and Perth begins in Brisbane.
Rather than heading straight into two of their toughest assignments in the FIBA World Cup 2027 Asian Qualifiers, the national team is investing in something it believes could make the difference when the games matter most: preparation.
The Philippines departs for Australia on Tuesday for a training camp in Brisbane, where Gilas will not only get valuable practice time but also a chance to adapt to the winter conditions and play tune-up games, including one against NBL side Brisbane Bullets.
With New Zealand and Australia waiting on the other side of the trip, head coach Tim Cone sees the camp as more than just another stop on the schedule.
“We know it’s going to be tough,” Cone said during Gilas’ send-off press conference on Monday. “We’ve been a team that’s pulled surprises before, and I’m not going to be surprised if we pull a surprise.”
Cone emphasized that confidence starts with preparation, especially against opponents that have consistently been among the strongest teams in the region.
“I think that’s really good preparation for us,” he said. “Every game for Gilas is a championship game. It’s a Game 7.”
“A prepared team is a confident team. If we feel like we’re prepared and ready to go, then we’re going to be confident,” Cone added.
The camp also addresses a challenge that often goes unnoticed—adjusting to a completely different environment before tip-off.
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Tim Cone said Gilas Pilipinas will take full advantage of its four-day training camp in Brisbane, Australia, using the facilities of the Brisbane Bullets to prepare for crucial games in New Zealand. l Via Zeus Valdez#FastBreak #GilasPilipinas #TimCone pic.twitter.com/pA9yvhoUrB
— Fastbreak (@fastbreaknewsph) June 23, 2026
Gilas program director Alfrancis Chua pointed out that acclimatizing to Australia’s winter weather is one of the key reasons behind the early trip.
“It’s winter there right now, so malaking bagay sa mga bata,” Chua said. “At least makaka-adjust na sila, ‘yung katawan nila.”
The Philippines enters the third window with a 2-2 record in Group A and has already secured a place in the next phase of qualification. Still, the upcoming games offer an opportunity to build momentum and measure themselves against two teams expected to contend for top spots in the region.
Gilas faces New Zealand in Auckland on July 3 before traveling to Perth to take on unbeaten Australia on July 6.
For a team chasing another World Cup appearance, Brisbane represents more than a training camp—it is the starting point of a mission to prove it can compete with Oceania’s best on their own turf.
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