Champions one week, national warriors the next — Ginebra’s Justin Brownlee, RJ Abarrientos, Scottie Thompson, and Troy Rosario are back in action as they spearhead Gilas Pilipinas’ latest qualifying push in the third window of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 Asian Qualifiers.
The four Gin Kings headline the 12-man roster announced Thursday by the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas, which will suit up for back‑to‑back road games in Perth: New Zealand on July 3 followed by Australia on July 6.
Notably missing from the lineup are young bigs Kai Sotto and Quentin Millora-Brown. To help address the size gap, Gilas is turning to UAAP Season 88 Finals MVP Mike Phillips, who is set to make his debut as a local, along with Converge standout Justine Baltazar.
Rounding out the squad are AJ Edu, June Mar Fajardo, Chris Newsome, Kevin Quiambao, Dwight Ramos, and Carl Tamayo — a mix of veterans, rising stars, and versatile forwards that coach Tim Cone hopes will hold steady against two powerhouse home teams.
