GILAS PILIPINAS’ 2025 FIBA Asia Cup run has come to an end, as they bow out in the quarterfinals following a tough 84-60 loss to defending champions Australia on Wednesday evening (Philippine Time).
The gold medal continues to elude the Philippines, with seven years gone by and the national team still struggling to find answers against the Aussies, who remain unbeaten in the Asia Cup.
Gilas Pilipinas has now fallen to 0-3 against Australia, with previous defeats coming during the FIBA World Cup 2019 Asian Qualifiers—losing 68-84 at Margaret Court Arena and the infamous 53-89 at the Philippine Arena.
No Solutions Found
Australia came out firing, jumping to a quick 16-4 advantage thanks to their hot shooting. Once again, Gilas’ perimeter defense—an issue that’s plagued them throughout the tournament—proved to be a major liability.
The Boomers knocked down seven three-pointers in the opening quarter alone, with Jaylin Galloway and Jack McVeigh accounting for three and two, respectively. That scoring burst allowed the Aussies to build a 29-12 lead by the end of the first.
Kevin Quiambao tried to ignite a rally, putting up nine of Gilas’ 16 second-quarter points. He got support from fellow overseas-based players Dwight Ramos and Carl Tamayo, but the effort wasn’t enough to close the gap.
Australia kept its momentum going in the second half, using its height advantage and efficient shooting—46% from the floor—to stay in command. They also dominated the rebounding battle, extending their lead to as many as 26 points.
Quiambao finished as the top scorer for Gilas with 17 points on 60% shooting, including five made threes. Ramos added 15 points, seven rebounds, two assists, and a steal. Justin Brownlee, however, was held to just 10 points and struggled to find his rhythm.
On the other side, Australia had five players in double figures. Owen Foxwell led with 17 points, followed by Galloway with 15 and McVeigh with 12. Xavier Cooks and Will Magnay each added 10 points.
Puso, Until the Final Buzzer
Although Filipino fans were aware that facing Australia would be a tough challenge—if not an unlikely upset—Gilas Pilipinas head coach Tim Cone believes his team had the tools to compete but simply didn’t execute well.
“Mixed emotions. I really like our team and the way we play. They’re good guys and easy to coach, but I didn’t like our performance tonight,” Cone said.
“I don’t think we stepped up the way we wanted to. The Australian athleticism and length, even if you see it on video… Once you get on the court against them, you realize how superior they are,” he added.
This marked the first time the national team faced the Boomers under Coach Tim Cone’s tutelage. With that in mind, executing against a squad of this caliber—currently ranked No. 7 in the world—proved to be a tough challenge for the team.
“We tried a few things, but they didn’t work. We wanted to keep the game at a certain tempo and make it more of an execution-type game rather than an up-and-down one, but they completely disrupted that. We couldn’t do it,” Cone said.
“At some point, we tried to match their pace, and they just overwhelmed us. They started hot – making their first three threes – and jumped to an early lead.”
“We were on our heels the rest of the way. It’s always tough to be in that situation, but l still think we could’ve played better, and we didn’t tonight,” he went on to explain.
A Silver Lining
Despite the defeat, Gilas fans have found a bright spot: the emergence of Kevin Quiambao. The two-time UAAP MVP continues to show he’s cut from a different cloth.
Still, Quiambao openly admitted that what the team is doing right now isn’t enough, as they once again fall short of bringing home the title. It’s a mindset defined by grit and accountability—true toughness.
“Maganda ‘yung performance, pero ayun nga, hindi namin nakuha ‘yung panalo,” Quiambao said. “Ang magma-matter naman sa dulo is kung nanalo kayo or hindi.”
“I’m proud of this team, I’m proud of everyone na kasali rito. It’s been a great FIBA Asia [Cup], and magpe-prepare kami for the World Cup Qualifiers sa November. But I’m proud this team.”
“I’m proud sa lahat ng kababayan natin na sumuporta despite na hindi natin nakuha ‘yung panalo,” he went on to say.
All things considered, Quiambao remains grateful for the opportunity to represent the country once again in this tournament and has fully embraced the challenges that came with answering the national team call.
“Ever since naman na ma-call up ako sa Gilas pangarap ko na talaga na makapaglaro, na lumaban para sa bayan,” the 24-year-old do-it-all forward said, highlighting how honored he was to represent the country.
“Tulad nga ng sinasabi namin, ‘Built on belief.’ Kailangan namin patunayan na kahit sino kaya namin. Pero, kailangan ‘yun ng matinding preparation and matinding commitment para makuha ‘yung ganung sitwasyon,” he added.
For now, Gilas Pilipinas heads home with pride intact. However, a tough road lies ahead as they gear up for the FIBA World Cup Qualifiers in November, aiming to make key adjustments and turn their program around.
