By Darryl John Esguerra
MANILA – Gilas Pilipinas is facing a daunting path in the 2027 FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers after being drawn into a stacked Group A alongside world No. 7 Australia, No. 22 New Zealand, and Guam.
The draw was held Tuesday night (Manila time) in Doha, Qatar.
The qualifiers begin this November and will follow a home-and-away, double round-robin format across three windows — November 2025, February 2026, and July 2026.
The top three teams from each group advance to the second round.
Group A teams will merge with those from Group C, which includes perennial contender Iran, Jordan, Syria, and Iraq.
In the second round, teams play only the qualifiers from the other group, with results from the first round carrying over. These games will be held in August 2026, November 2026, and February 2027.
The top three teams from each second-round group, along with host nation Qatar and the best fourth-placed team, will qualify for the FIBA World Cup 2027, set for Aug. 27 to Sept. 12.
In other World Cup draw results: Group B features Japan, China, Korea, and Chinese Taipei, while Group D includes Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, India, and Qatar.
Ranked No. 34 in the world, Gilas will also meet New Zealand in the FIBA Asia Cup group stage in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, which is set from Aug. 5–17.
The Philippines splits its two previous meetings with the Tall Blacks in the FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers.
The Philippines is looking to make its fourth straight World Cup appearance. (PNA)
