Gilas Pilipinas came up just short in their first game of the second window of the 2027 FIBA Basketball World Cup Asian Qualifiers, falling 69-66 to New Zealand in a nail-biting contest.
With the dust settled, it’s time to break down each player’s performance: Who delivered, who held their ground, and who has room to improve in the crucial clash with Australia.
CJ Perez – A
Perez got into foul trouble, but his offensive performance was exactly what the Gilas needed against the Tall Blacks. He found the perfect blend of drives and got into his patented step backs to finish with 15 points having set the tone for the Philippines in the first quarter. The San Miguel guard needs to bring that pace on Gilas’ halfcourt execution on the offensive end against the Boomers.
AJ Edu – B+
Edu delivered a defensive clinic, serving as the backline anchor of Gilas’ scheme, and acting as the safety whether he was the lone big on the floor or paired with Quentin Millora-Brown. He showed his versatility in ball-screen coverage, comfortably playing at the level to contain handlers and recovering quickly to disrupt passing lanes. When perimeter breakdowns happened, he rotated on time as a weak-side rim protector, erasing attempts and cleaning up possessions. His 11 rebounds and three blocks tell only part of the story: This was a non-scoring performance (he scored 5 points) that anchored the defense and tilted the interior battle in Gilas’ favor.
Dwight Ramos – B+
Ramos came through with timely buckets in the second half, sparking Gilas’ late push and briefly putting pressure on New Zealand. The Levanga Hokkaido Asian import was the Philippines’ leading scorer with 16 points, showing the confidence to take and make big shots when the game tightened. Efficiency remains a concern, however. Ramos shot just 6-of-21 from the field (28.6%) and struggled from deep at 10%; those numbers reflect how defenses are now zeroing in on him as the secondary scoring threat behind Justin Brownlee. With opponents crowding his catch-and-shoot looks, and closing out harder, Ramos must expand his counters to maintain his impact beyond being a play finisher within Gilas’ system.
Juan Gomez De Liano – B+
Gomez de Liano provided the extra scoring punch Gilas needed in the backcourt through his pull-up shooting that added a different layer to the offense. He posted 10 points and gave the team a guard who can create a shot outside of the traditional triangle reads. For stretches when the offense became predictable, his ability to rise up off the dribble kept the defense honest and diversified the attack. The next step is translating his playmaking to the international stage. He had just two assists and leaned heavily into scoring, taking 11 shots in 14 minutes. The good news for the Philippines is that he has already shown in the PBA that he can be an elite passer; it’s now about syncing that vision and timing within this Gilas setup to maximize his overall impact.
Scottie Thompson – B
There are nights when Thompson scores in bunches and there are nights like this, when he finishes with just a single point yet still leaves a strong imprint on the game. He consistently made the right reads within the triangle, kept the ball moving to the proper spots, and served as a defensive cog who rotated on time and competed on the glass. The Ginebra guard’s biggest edge remains his deep understanding of the system installed by Tim Cone. Thompson knows where the entries should go, when to trigger split actions, and how to direct teammates into their spots. Even without scoring, his command of spacing and tempo helps stabilize Gilas in the halfcourt.
Quentin Millora-Brown – B-
Millora-Brown had moments where he was targeted in ball-screen actions, particularly when defending in space. New Zealand’s guards tried to pull him away from the paint, and force reads on the move — an area where he still has room to grow defensively at the international level. Still, the former UP Fighting Maroon competed and found other ways to stay productive. Offensively, his value as a post hub remains clear, where he initiated dribble handoffs cleanly, made quick decisions, and rarely forced plays. The 6’10 center also positioned himself well on baseline cuts and in the dunker spot, converting off drop-offs and broken plays to finish with seven points, six rebounds, two assists, and two steals, but tightening up his pick-and-roll coverage will be key to elevating his overall impact for Gilas moving forward.
Justin Brownlee – C
Brownlee produced one of his quietest outings in a Gilas uniform, finishing with just four points on 20% shooting along with four turnovers. It was a rare dip in production for the team’s primary offensive engine, Even so, his gravity remained a factor. The Tall Blacks consistently sent double teams his way, creating four-on-three opportunities that Gilas could attack. He also competed defensively when deployed at the four in smaller lineups. But his scoring rhythm must return in a big way if the Philippines hope to seriously challenge Australia.
Calvin Oftana – C
On paper, Calvin Oftana’s +15 in just 13 minutes stands out: A strong on-court differential that suggests positive lineup impact. Still, it felt like a muted performance relative to his potential. The TNT wing was noticeably hesitant to pull the trigger, attempting only three shots and finishing with three points. For a player capable of stretching the floor and attacking closeouts, Gilas need Oftana to be more assertive offensively to fully unlock his value on both ends.
Kevin Quiambao – C-
Quiambao endured a tough shooting night, as his shots simply would not fall. He finished with just two points and went 0-for-4 from beyond the arc, which limited his minutes and overall rhythm within the rotation. When the outside shot isn’t there, he needs to find other ways to impact the game — whether through rebounding, secondary playmaking, or attacking mismatches inside — to stay playable and maximize his skill set at the international level.
June Mar Fajardo – D-
Fajardo was quiet, and he logged nine minutes without scoring as New Zealand applied constant pressure to his slow laterals. New Zealand also made sure to attack his slow laterals on ball-screen actions, which bent Gilas’ defense. Guards turned the corner or forced help rotations, which became detrimental for the nine-time MVP’s impact on the floor with a team-worst -20. With enough sample size already, further questions must be asked about his value in the international arena.
NB: Carl Tamayo and Chris Newsome played only five and one minute respectively so we have not issued a grade.
