No Justin Brownlee in the FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers, no problem for Gilas Pilipinas.
Once again, Gilas Pilipinas bucked the absence of their naturalized star to nail a second straight win, this time against Iran, on Sunday at a packed SM Mall of Asia Arena.
The victory carried a passing‑of‑the‑torch feel, as the national team’s younger players took over completely. Kai Sotto stood tall in the paint, Dwight Ramos finished with a flourish, Juan Gomez de Liaño got hot, AJ Edu dominated defensively, and Kevin Quiambao had his moments.
Gilas Pilipinas in Good Hands
Naturally, the ring leader of it all for Gilas Pilipinas, Sotto, is stoked by this strong showing. And he is well aware that he and his fellow young guns now have a huge responsibility squarely placed on their shoulders.
“I think this young core we have, I think it gives me confidence when it comes to the future. Me, Carl [Tamayo], Dwight, AJ, KQ [Kevin Quiambao], Juan. These are young guys who have a really bright future for the national team,” Sotto stressed after the Iran win. “I think this window was a big challenge for us without Justin. It was on us to take that bigger step. We have to help each other, we have to play better, and we have to own that we have that big responsibility for this team.”
Help each other they did. Sotto, Ramos, Gomez de Liaño, and Edu sparked a 29‑16 second quarter that flipped an 18‑7 deficit into a 36‑34 halftime lead. Gomez de Liaño then caught fire late in the third to keep the offense afloat, before Ramos took charge in the closing minutes of the fourth.
On to the Next?
If anything, this window proved one thing: Sotto and company are ready for their takeover. The question now is whether this young core that excelled in Window 4 will be back together for the coming windows. With the fifth and final stages still must‑win, it will take another all‑hands‑on‑deck approach to keep the momentum alive.
Of note, this core could be reinforced by more exciting young guns such as Quentin Millora‑Brown, who missed the last two windows due to back surgery, and Mike Phillips, who sat out Window 4 for personal reasons.
A team of superb under‑28 players boasting size, skill, and talent is certainly an exciting prospect for Gilas Pilipinas. Now, it’s about getting them together every time possible.
