Australia dashed Gilas Pilipinas’ hopes of a podium finish at the 2025 FIBA Asia Cup with a dominant 84-60 victory in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
The Boomers were ready for Gilas Pilipinas from the get-go, raining down seven threes in the first quarter alone on just nine attempts as they rolled to a commanding 29-12 lead. Jaylin Galloway and Jack McVeigh showed the way for Australia, going a perfect 5-for-5 from downtown to put the Philippines behind early.
The Filipinos, though, found some footing in the second canto, keeping in step with Australia and getting outscored only by three, 19-16, to enter intermission down 48-28. Kevin Quiambao, one of Gilas Pilipinas’ heroes in their win against Saudi Arabia, continued to wax hot, scoring 9 of his 11 first half points in the second on three booming treys.
Gilas Pilipinas Fails to Make Headway
Any hopes of a Gilas Pilipinas comeback looked dim early in the third as the Boomers answered every Gilas basket, usually with a three. In one stretch early in the third quarter, Gilas cut the lead to 50-33, but Australia hit three consecutive triples—back-to-back by Owen Foxwell and another by Galloway—to extend the cushion back to 59-35. The nationals, though, would go on to outscore Australia the rest of the third quarter, 15-10, to bring the lead back down to 69-50 entering the final frame.
There was to be no comeback this time around, however, as Australia proved too big, too good, and too disciplined for the Tim Cone-helmed squad. McVeigh dashed any hopes of Gilas cutting into the lead at around the seven-minute mark with back-to-back contested jumpers that gave the Aussies a 75-53 advantage that they kept up until the final whistle.
Galloway and Foxwell led Australia with 15 apiece, while McVeigh finished with 12. Xavier Cooks added 10 points and 7 rebounds, while Jack White had 8 markers and 8 boards. Leading the way for Gilas Pilipinas was Quiambao, who fired 17 points on 5-for-8 shooting from the arc. Dwight Ramos chipped in 15 but was just 7-for-22 from the field and 1-for-11 from downtown. Justin Brownlee, who was averaging 23.3 points prior to this game, was held to just 10 markers on seven shots.
The Scores:
Australia (84) – Galloway 15, Foxwell 15, McVeigh 12, Cooks 10, Magnay 10, White 8, Wessels 6, Hickey 5, Bannan 2, Daniels 1, Smith 0, Henshall 0
Philippines (60( – Quiambao 17, Ramos 15, Brownlee 10, Edu 8, Thompson 5, Aguilar 2, Tamayo 2, Malonzo 1, Newsome 0, Fajardo 0
