ArenaPlus has renewed its sponsorship of Gilas Pilipinas as the national men’s basketball team begins its campaign in the Asian Qualifiers for the 2027 FIBA Basketball World Cup, starting with a two-game opening round against Guam.
The sponsorship renewal and team send-off were held at a private event in Pasig on 24 November, underscoring continued private-sector support for the country’s national basketball program as it gears up for another World Cup run.
ArenaPlus, operated by Total Gamezone Xtreme Inc., reaffirmed its backing of Gilas Pilipinas as the team embarks on the long road to the 2027 FIBA World Cup in Qatar. The company is one of the major sponsors of the national squad and has positioned its partnership as part of a broader commitment to sports development in the Philippines.
Representing Total Gamezone Xtreme Inc., Rafael Jasper Vicencio conveyed support for the team as it competes on the international stage. Also present was Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) Executive Director Erika Dy, who expressed gratitude for ArenaPlus’ continued support of the Gilas program.
PBA Commissioner Willie Marcial and Gilas Pilipinas Program Director Alfrancis Chua also attended the send-off. Chua called on Filipinos to rally behind the national team, saying, “On December 1st, at Ateneo, all Filipinos, please support Gilas, our nation’s basketball team.”
Gilas head coach Tim Cone said the team has embraced the challenge ahead, citing lessons learned from past setbacks.
“The players came to work, which shows how important this means to us. These players have been through failures and they’ve learned from those failures, they also understand that we’re not taking anything for granted, so we expect a stronger team coming up,” Cone said.
The national team was scheduled to fly out on 25 November ahead of its opening qualifier against Guam. The Asian Qualifiers will run from November 2025 to March 2027, culminating in the FIBA World Cup in Qatar.
Gilas Pilipinas currently has an 18-man pool, from which the final 12-man lineup will be selected under Cone’s leadership. The Philippines is grouped in Group A alongside Australia, New Zealand, and Guam, as it targets its eighth FIBA World Cup appearance.
The Filipinos will face Guam on 28 November at the Calvo Fieldhouse in Guam before returning home to host the same opponent on 1 December at the Blue Eagle Gym in Quezon City.