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How is Gilas' World Cup bid after the fourth-window sweep?

Sports | Basketball

How is Gilas' World Cup bid after the fourth-window sweep?

By Reynald I. Magallon

At A Glance

But with the Nationals getting the job done in the two crucial games against Jordan and Iran, where does Gilas' bid to make it to a fourth straight World Cup appearance currently stand?

Gilas Pilipinas’ World Cup hopes were hanging in the balance before the start of the fourth window of the 2027 FIBA Asian Qualifiers.

According to Gilas Pilipinas head coach Tim Cone, closing the first round of the qualifiers with a 2-4 record left the Nationals with little room for error. Based on their computations, Gilas needed to win at least five games to have a favorable shot at making it back to the world stage.

Gilas needs to finish in the Top 3 of the Group E standings for an assured World Cup spot or become the best fourth-placed team in its group should Qatar finish outside the Top 4 in Group F.

The Qataris are currently tied with South Korea for fourth and fifth spots with similar 4-4 records.

But with the Nationals getting the job done in the two crucial games against Jordan and Iran, where does Gilas’ bid to make it to a fourth straight World Cup appearance currently stand?

The Nationals improved to a 4-4 slate following a pulsating 82-81 victory over Jordan and a 68-56 win over Iran, and they are now a game behind their victims, who both have 5-3 records for the third and fourth spots in the standings.

Australia and New Zealand hold the top two spots with 8-0 and 6-2 records, respectively.

“I think we do. I don’t know if we actually do, but I think we have some control (of our fate),” said Cone.

The wins against Jordan and Iran gave Gilas a lifeline, to say the least, but the November window, where it will figure in a rematch against Iran and a game against Syria, remains just as crucial for the Nationals.

A sweep of those two matches would put Gilas in position to move into the Top 3. Of course, the Nationals also need New Zealand and Australia to keep both Iran and Jordan from winning their games.

A loss would hurt but not totally take Gilas’ chances away, while another winless window would become problematic for the Nationals.

“At this point, we were hanging on Australia and New Zealand to continue winning their games so that we can elevate ourselves into the standings,” said Cone.

“We just got to the locker room saying that this was really a special moment, but this isn’t our goal. Our goal is to make it to the World Cup, and all this did was to give us a big step forward,” he added.

Related Tags

Gilas Pilipinas FIBA Tim Cone

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