Gilas Pilipinas Takes On Australia Today at MOA Arena — Boomers Return to PH Soil for the First Time Since THAT 2018 Brawl

It's game day, basketball fans! Gilas Pilipinas faces Australia in the FIBA World Cup 2027 Asian Qualifiers this Sunday at the Mall of Asia Arena, and this one is loaded with history. It marks the Boomers' first game on Philippine soil in nearly eight years — since that infamous 2018 brawl that had players from both teams ejected.

The last time Australia played in Manila was during the 2018 Asian Qualifiers, a game marred by a bench-clearing fight that led to suspensions and global headlines. Australia won that one 89-53. They also beat Gilas 84-60 in last year's FIBA Asia Cup quarterfinals. So yeah, the Boomers have had our number.

Gilas comes into this game stinging from a heartbreaking 69-66 loss to New Zealand last Thursday. CJ Perez was honest about it: 'Kailangang mag-move on for next game. Kailangan mag-focus, kailangan mag-move forward para sa Australia.'

Head coach Tim Cone isn't interested in moral victories either. 'I just don't want to get into this we almost won, we almost did that. We don't want to play that game with ourselves — we want to win games,' Cone said.

The stakes are clear: Australia leads Group A at 3-0 and has already qualified. The Philippines sits at 2-1, needing to stay in the top three to advance. With Guam still winless and New Zealand at 1-2, a win today would be huge for Gilas' campaign.

Source: GMA News