Gilas Pilipinas overcame a tough Jericho Cruz-starred Guam side for an early Group A lead in the 2027 FIBA Basketball World Cup Asian qualifiers.
The Nationals dealt the guests a rude welcome through their 95-71 victory, on Monday evening, December 1, at the Blue Eagle Gym in the Ateneo de Manila University campus in Quezon City, staying unscathed in their first two games.
Dwight Ramos was steady for the Philippines, putting up 19 points, seven rebounds and two steals, while Justin Brownlee starred with 20 markers, seven assists and five boards.
“The two wins put us in a good position to advance,” said Ramos, as Gilas won its second straight game, with the first coming via its 87-46 victory at the Yigo Village, Calvo Fieldhouse.
“We just gotta win as many games as we can so we could qualify for the World Cup,” added Ramos, as the national team also drew 12 points, five assists and four rebounds from Kevin Quiambao.
Up next for the Philippines are two home games in 2026 at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay. They will face New Zealand on February 26, and Australia on March 1.
On the other hand, Guam remained winless in two games in their group despite Jericho Cruz’s game-high 27 points with three assists and a steal.
Only a 76-64 game midway through the fourth as Cruz was keeping Guam alive, Chris Newsome drained a three-pointer from the wing at the 6:20 mark to push Gilas’ lead back to 15, 79-64.
And while these left Guam with enough time to answer, Quentin Millora-Brown, Quiambao, Brownlee, and Ramos went on to put the finishing touches to rebuild a 24-point cushion before the buzzer sounded to seal the win.
Newsome finished with 10 points, three assists, and two rebounds, while Millora-Brown had a nine-point, nine-rebound outing in his first Gilas game on home soil.
Guam, for its part, also saw Takumi Simon step up with 23 points and four rebounds, while Jonathan Galloway manned the paint with 10 points, 17 rebounds, a steal, and a block. (ABS-CBN News)
PHILIPPINES 95 — Brownlee 20, Ramos 19, Quiambao 12, Newsome 10, Millora-Brown 9, Fajardo 7, Thompson 5, Tamayo 4, Edu 4, Aguilar 3, Perez 2, Abarrientos 0.
GUAM 71 — Cruz 27, Simon 23, Galloway 10, Wesley 5, Blas 4, Africano 2, Borja II 0, Calvo 0, Johnson Jr. 0, Hechanova 0, Osborn 0, Fegurgur 0.
Quarterscores: 32-15, 50-36, 72-55, 95-71.