Australia def Philippines, 84-60[July 12, 2025 | 7:00pm | Jeddah, KSA]

Riding high on the momentum from their thrilling overtime victory against Saudi Arabia, Gilas Pilipinas is set to face off against the formidable Australian team in the quarterfinals of the 31st FIBA Asia Cup, carrying with them the pride and weight of their hard-fought win.

The highly anticipated match, scheduled for 7 p.m. on Wednesday (Manila time) at King Abdullah Sports City, will determine which team secures the first spot in the semifinals.

The last encounter between these two teams sparked one of the most notorious brawls in basketball history. Back in 2018, during the FIBA World Cup qualifiers at Philippine Arena, tensions erupted into chaos as players from both sides traded blows in an unforgettable scene.

Following the melee, a staggering 13 players were ejected, and numerous suspensions were handed out by FIBA, which also implicated several members of the Gilas Pilipinas coaching staff.

However, the landscape has evolved significantly in the seven years since that infamous clash, with both squads now featuring new rosters and coaching philosophies.

Gilas head coach Tim Cone is preparing to face the Boomers for the first time since assuming leadership of the national men’s team in 2023.

Pulling off a stunning upset against the world’s seventh-ranked team will be a formidable challenge for Gilas.

Since the integration of Oceania with the Asian zone in 2017, Australia has remained unbeaten in the continental competition, boasting an impressive 15-game winning streak. They secured championships with flawless 6-0 records at the 2017 (Lebanon) and 2022 (Jakarta) tournaments.

The Boomers showcased their dominance with a clean sweep of their Group A matchups against Lebanon, South Korea, and Qatar, achieving an average victory margin of 25.6 points.

Jaylin Galloway leads Australia in scoring, averaging 18.0 points per game, while the 6-foot-6 small forward Jack White stands out as the top rebounder with 7.7 per game. Guard William Hickey, at 6-foot-4, also shines, leading the team in assists with a commendable average of 6.0, ranking second in the league.

On the other hand, Gilas is riding a wave of optimism, having secured consecutive victories over Iraq and the uplifting win against Saudi Arabia, fueling Coach Cone’s belief that Gilas can compete effectively against Australia.

Interestingly, only towering big men June Mar Fajardo and Japeth Aguilar remain from the Gilas squad that last faced the Boomers in 2018, highlighting the team’s transformation since then.