Gilas Pilipinas names 12-man roster for fifth window of World Cup qualifiers

The Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) announced on 11 November 2026 the 12 players who will represent Gilas Pilipinas in the fifth window of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 Asian Qualifiers, according to Edge Davao.

Head coach Tim Cone will again rely on a core of familiar names: AJ Edu, Chris Newsome, CJ Perez, Kevin Quiambao, Dwight Ramos, Kai Sotto, Juan Gomez de Liaño and Scottie Thompson. Frontcourt players Quentin Millora-Brown and Mike Phillips are also back with the squad.

The lineup features two notable additions. Rhenz Abando returns to the national team for the first time since the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup. Bennie Boatwright, a former San Miguel Beermen import and Gilas' reserve naturalised player, is set to play his first official game for the country after the Senate approved his naturalisation bill.

Cone said preparations will centre on integrating players and getting them comfortable with the team's system. Abando last played for Gilas under former coach Chot Reyes, who used a different system, while Boatwright has joined past national team practices but has not yet played an official match as the naturalised player.

According to the SBP, the team will leave for Malaysia on 21 November for a five-day training camp at Karisma Arena in Seremban, which will also host the qualifier games.

Gilas is chasing a fourth straight World Cup appearance and must finish in the top three of Group E to qualify. The Philippines is currently fifth in the group, trailing Australia, New Zealand, Iran and Jordan. Its upcoming matches are against Syria on 27 November and Iran on 29 November.