The Philippines will join crack teams from Oceania — Australia and New Zealand — as well as Guam in Group A of the Asian Qualifiers for the 2027 FIBA World Cup.
Beginning November this year, Gilas Pilipinas will start its quest for a potential return trip to the FIBA World Cup. The Philippines has been in the world stage in the past three stagings beginning 2014 when the country ended a 40-year drought of non-participation in the most prestigious basketball event.
Gilas assistant coach and current Far Eastern University Tamaraws mentor Sean Chambers was sent by the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas to observe the drawing of lots in Qatar.
Also present during the drawing of lots were Germany’s legendary player Dirk Nowitzki, who carried the championship trophy that was displayed during the course of the event. Germany won the FIBA World Cup in Manila two years ago.
Retired NBA star and three-time Olympic gold medalist Carmelo Anthony was also present during the festivities.
Two years ago, the Philippines was able to bring the World Cup back to Manila for the first time since 1978 as it co-hosted the event along with Japan and Indonesia.
The FIBA World Cup serves as a qualifying event for the 2028 Olympics as it guarantees an automatic seat for the top Asian team, which was enjoyed by Japan when it emerged as the top Asian team. The top Asian team doesn’t include Oceania teams like Australia and New Zealand, which have their own classification.
In the Asian Qualifiers, these 16 teams divided into four groups, will play in a home and away format and facing teams belong to their groups in the first two windows. These windows will be in November 2025, February 2026 and July 2026.
The top three teams from each group will then advance to the second round. The teams that will advance in Groups A and C will form Group E while Groups B and D will form Group F. Qatar being the pre-qualified team as host will take one of these spots. All teams will carry over the results they incurred in the first round.
In the second round, there will be two games each per team playing in a home and away format against the other teams coming from the other group. The three windows scheduled in 2026 will be in August and November and the last window will be played in February 2027.
At the end of these two rounds, the top seven teams along with Qatar, will advance to the FIBA 2027 World Cup.
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