Romwel Anzures

Basketball, FIBA, 2027 FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers, Gilas Pilipinas, Tim Cone, FIBA Basketball

Article (news)

ABS-CBN News

<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1783139381155IMG_1322.jpeg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/>Gilas Pilipinas’ Juan Gomez de Liaño (#1) Kevin Quiambao (#28), and Carl Tamayo (#33) against New Zealand in the 2027 FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers. Photos from FIBA Basketball.MANILA — With Justin Brownlee limited by a rare off night, Gilas Pilipinas&#x27; young core took center stage in what served as a glimpse of the future of Philippine basketball.</div>Kevin Quiambao, Juan Gomez de Liaño, and Carl Tamayo provided the spark in Gilas&#x27; 102-106 double-overtime loss to New Zealand on Friday, pushing the Tall Blacks to the limit before running out of steam.<div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/basketball/2026/7/3/fiba-gilas-pilipinas-puts-up-gallant-stand-but-falls-to-new-zealand-in-2ot-1758">READ: Gilas Pilipinas puts up gallant stand, but falls to New Zealand in 2OT</a></div>That left Gilas head coach Tim Cone in awe, saying the team&#x27;s young stars are developing even faster than expected.&quot;They may be coming in a little bit more quickly than we thought, but they are certainly stepping up at a much higher level,&quot; said the Barangay Ginebra mentor.Quiambao and Tamayo, both 25-year-old standouts for their respective clubs in the Korean Basketball League, played key roles as Gilas erased a 12-point deficit.The former De La Salle University star finished with 23 points, three rebounds, and two assists, while his University of the Philippines counterpart added 17 points on 3-of-4 shooting from beyond the arc to help keep Gilas within striking distance earlier in the match.Meanwhile, the 26-year-old De Liaño showed nerves of steel, knocking down two crucial three-pointers late in the match to finish with 23 points, six rebounds, and four assists.AJ Edu and RJ Abarrientos, both 26, as well as 24-year-old Mike Phillips, also showed they could be counted on.Abarrientos, despite receiving criticism from fans after the game, contributed six points, 10 assists, and five rebounds. Edu chipped in six points and four rebounds, while Phillips provided energy in limited action with two points, three rebounds, and a steal in his FIBA debut.Even the 27-year-old Dwight Ramos, a mainstay of the national team, proved to be reliable with 18 points, four rebounds, and three assists.With veterans Brownlee, June Mar Fajardo, Troy Rosario, and Chris Newsome now in their mid-to-late 30s, Cone welcomed the emergence of the younger core, saying he expects them to take on bigger roles as Gilas continues its bid to return to the FIBA World Cup.&quot;They have been developing for a year and a half, two years, and every time they&#x27;ve come in, they&#x27;ve gotten better,&quot; said Cone. &quot;They have evolved with the team, and that was the vision, that they, at one point, would be the main guys.&quot;Gilas returns to action on Monday against Australia at 6:30 p.m. as the Nationals conclude their assignments in the first round of the qualifiers.

With Justin Brownlee limited by a rare off night, Gilas Pilipinas' young core took center stage in what served as a glimpse of the future of Philippine basketball.

With Justin Brownlee limited by a rare off night, Gilas Pilipinas' young core took center stage in what served as a glimpse of the future of Philippine basketball.

FIBA: The future is now for Gilas' young core, says Tim Cone

News

Entertainment

Lifestyle

Sports

Metro.Style

More

Sudoku

Word of the Day

Lotto

Horoscope

Basketball

FIBA: The future is now for Gilas' young core, says Tim Cone

Rom Anzures,

ABS-CBN News

Published July 04, 2026 01:36 PM PHT

Read More:

Basketball

FIBA

2027 FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers

Gilas Pilipinas

Tim Cone

FIBA Basketball

Carl Tamayo

Kevin Quiambao

Juan Gomez de Liaño

Dwight Ramos

ABS-CBN Newsletter

Your go-to source for the latest news, entertainment highlights, exclusive interviews, and updates on your favorite Kapamilya stars.

ABS-CBN Newsletter

Your go-to source for the latest news, entertainment highlights, exclusive interviews, and updates on your favorite Kapamilya stars.

Sign Up

I have read and agree to the Terms and Privacy Policy.

ABS-CBN is the leading media and entertainment company in the Philippines, offering quality content across TV, radio, digital, and film. Committed to public service and promoting Filipino values, ABS-CBN continues to inspire and connect audiences worldwide.

Corporate

Investors

Governance

International Distribution

Corporate

Governance

Investors

International Distribution

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

AI Policy

Terms of Service

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.