‘It’s very rare to get to see a team like the Philippines in person, let alone at home at the Stockyard. The Bulls can’t wait to host Gilas Pilipinas and we are excited to welcome fans of both teams.’
JUNE Mar Fajardo and Gilas Pilipinas are fine-tuning their game plan in preparation for the third window of the FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers.
PHOTOGRAPH courtesy of TIEBREAKER TIMES
Gilas Pilipinas’ test drive before its big race in the third window of the 2027 FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifier continues as it visits Pukekohe, New Zealand, for the last of the team’s two tune-up matches.
The Nationals try to fuel their confidence and see areas they need to improve in a friendly against the Franklin Bulls today at the Franklin Pool and Leisure Centre.
Another huge Filipino crowd is expected to troop the gym for the 6:30 p.m. clash (2:30 p.m. Manila time), much like the one that welcomed Gilas last Sunday in Manawatū-Whanganui Region.
Gilas is coming off a 92-61 drubbing of another New Zealand National Basketball League club, the Manawatu Jets, despite sitting out naturalized player Justin Brownlee.
Head coach Tim Cone allayed fears of any health concern on Brownlee, saying that he just gave the Gilas main scorer some extra time to rest following a grueling seven-game Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Season 50 Commissioner’s Cup finals series won by Barangay Ginebra over TNT.
Brownlee is expected to see some playing time this time as Gilas enters the last three days of its preparation before facing host New Zealand on 3 July.
Even without Brownlee, Gilas cruised past the Jets with youngbloods Kevin Quiambao and Carl Tamayo leading the way.
Quiambao and Tamayo had 14 and 13 points, respectively, for Gilas in the exhibition match rout.
New face Mike Phillips also made his presence felt with his hustle plays and control of the boards while contributing eight points.
Cone liked what he saw in his team and expects the same against the Bulls.
It will be the first time for the Bulls to host Gilas.
“It’s very rare to get to see a team like the Philippines in person, let alone at home at the Stockyard. The Bulls can’t wait to host Gilas Pilipinas and we are excited to welcome fans of both teams,” Bulls club director Scott Kelso said.
“This is going to be a great exhibition of basketball,” he added.
Gilas has been priming up for its rematch against the Tall Blacks for the past week.
The Filipinos left Manila last week for a four-day training camp in Brisbane, Australia to acclimatize to the cold weather and work on the chemistry of the team especially with new players, including big man Justine Baltazar and Phillips, adjusting to Cone’s system.
Gilas flew to New Zealand last Saturday in a trip that took longer than usual due to the weather and customs delays.
After taking on New Zealand, the Philippines will return to Australia to meet the Boomers on 6 July in Perth.
Gilas is on a two-game losing skid for a 2-2 win-loss record tied with the Tall Blacks in Group A.
Australia is unbeaten in four games while Guam is winless in four starts.
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