August 26, 2025 | 12:00am
Making it to the 2027 FIBA World Cup gained’t be straightforward for the Philippines and from all indications, the struggle for the final Asian ticket may very well be between Gilas and Iran. There are six home-and-away home windows set for the FIBA World Cup Asia qualifiers beginning in November and ending in March 2027. Of 16 contenders, eight will advance to the World Cup in Qatar on Aug. 27-Sept. 12, 2027. Host Qatar is assured a slot. The opposite seven are the highest three groups in two second spherical teams and the best-placed fourth placer, determined by the quotient system.
The Philippines is in a tricky state of affairs. It’s in Group A with Australia, New Zealand and Guam. The highest three will transfer to the second spherical to hitch the highest three in Group C which consists of Iran, Jordan, Syria and Iraq. The expectation is Gilas will take one in every of three slots from Group A with Guam prone to be eradicated. Nonetheless, Guam can’t be counted out. The Philippines will tackle Guam on Nov. 28 on the street and on Dec. 1 at house. Two Gilas wins will prop up the squad for the second and third home windows in opposition to the Boomers and Tall Blacks.
Outcomes of the primary spherical are carried over to the second. Tipped to emerge from Group C are Iran, Jordan and Syria, leaving out Iraq. Which means the chance is Australia, New Zealand, Philippines, Iran, Jordan and Syria can be bracketed in the identical second spherical group with the highest three finishers claiming outright tickets to Doha. Assuming Australia and New Zealand will end 1-2, Gilas and Iran will slug it out for third. The fourth placer will nonetheless make it to the World Cup however should compile a greater report than the fourth placer of the opposite group.
It’s essential for Gilas to qualify for the World Cup which is the pathway to the 2028 LA Olympics. The most effective-placed Asian group within the World Cup will go to LA. Australia and New Zealand gained’t be in competition for the Asian slot as they’re labeled below Oceania within the Olympics.
With Greek coach Sotirios Manolopoulos on the helm, Iran posted a 5-1 report on the latest FIBA Asia Cup in Jeddah in comparison with Gilas’ 2-3 and took the bronze medal, scuttling New Zealand, 79-73 within the playoff for third. What made Iran’s win over the Tall Blacks extra spectacular was it got here with out 6-7 Muhammad Amini who averaged 14.6 factors earlier than taking place with a knee situation. Veteran 6-8 ahead Arsalan Kazemi, 35, fired 16, together with 2-of-2 treys, in opposition to New Zealand and completed averaging 6.8 factors, 10.3 rebounds and a pair of.8 assists. Kazemi was the Washington Wizards’ second spherical decide within the 2013 NBA draft. Iran’s prime scorer was 6-3 Sina Vahedi who normed 17.8 factors. One other double determine scorer was 6-7 Matin Aghajanpour who averaged 11.8 factors, capturing .442 from three. In Jeddah, Iran averaged 73.7 factors, shot .323 from three and .636 from the road whereas Gilas hit at a 78.8 clip, .301 from three and .694 from the road. It appears to be like like Iran can be a giant stumbling block for Gilas to hurdle in qualifying for the World Cup.