SBP president Al Panlilio views Gilas Pilipinas’ run in the FIBA Asia Cup 2025 as a valuable step towards qualifying for the FIBA World Cup 2027 and returning to the Olympics.
Gilas Pilipinas’ quarterfinal exit in the FIBA Asia Cup 2025 may not have been the ultimate goal, but Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) president Al Panlilio believes it was an important step toward bigger ambitions.
The Filipinos' run ended with an 84–60 loss to Australia on Wednesday, closing the tournament with a 2–3 record. By reaching the top eight, Gilas already posted a marked improvement from the ninth place finish in 2022.
Admittedly, Panlilio rued Gilas’ opening match defeat to Chinese Taipei, which left them scrambling to secure a spot in the next round.
“Bittersweet,” Panlilio told News5. “A great bunch of guys who are coachable and have a strong brotherhood. We aren’t completely happy with our performance. If we didn’t lose to Taipei, we wouldn’t have met Australia in the quarters, but still, they are the team to beat in the FIBA Asia Cup.”
[ALSO READ: Cone gives blunt assessment as Gilas falls to 'superior' Australia, exits FIBA Asia Cup 2025]
Despite the setback, Panlilio stressed that the Asia Cup was never the final destination for this group.
“This is the journey we envisaged as our goal is to qualify for the FIBA World Cup in Qatar in 2027 and hopefully bring us to the Olympics for the first time since 1972. That’s our goal. FIBA Asia Cup is a building block to that.”
[ALSO READ: How Gilas Pilipinas have fared in the FIBA Asia Cup from 2011 to 2025]
Head coach Tim Cone shared the same perspective, emphasizing the value of keeping the group intact and growing together.
“You know, we put this team together for the long term and [are] trying to get them to grow together and get better,” Cone said. “If we’re going to just go ahead and change personnel, then we’re all back to zero again.
“The big missing piece for us is Kai Sotto, and hopefully we get Kai, and that makes us a little bit more competitive,” he added.
[ALSO READ: Gilas Pilipinas’ Kai Sotto shares update on recovery from ACL injury]
The focus now shifts to the 2027 FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers, which begin in November.
Gilas will host Guam on November 28 and December 1 before traveling to face New Zealand and Australia in the second window in early 2026.
(With reports from New5)