Tim Cone refuses to let Gilas Pilipinas dwell on the absence of its biggest star.
Despite losing Justin Brownlee to injury ahead of its daunting challenge against unbeaten Australia, Cone remains confident that the undermanned Filipinos can still put up a fight in their FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 Asian Qualifiers clash set for 6:30 PM (Manila time) Monday at Perth Arena.
The Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas announced Sunday evening that Brownlee has been ruled out due to multiple injuries.
“Justin Brownlee will miss the game against Australia due to hamstring strain and peroneal tendinopathy on his right leg and left knee swelling and cartilage defects,” the federation said in a statement.
Brownlee entered the third qualifying window as Gilas’ top performer, averaging 16.5 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 4.8 assists through the first four games.
However, the 38-year-old veteran was clearly limited in Friday’s heartbreaking 106-102 double-overtime loss to New Zealand. He finished with just five points on 2-of-3 shooting, alongside eight rebounds and four assists, before fouling out late in the second overtime.
According to Casino Plus Sportsbook, Gilas heads into the matchup as a heavy +26.5 underdog, with the over/under set at 171.5 points as of 12:00 PM.
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But for Cone, the odds only add to the challenge — and perhaps, the reward — if Gilas can find a way to defy expectations once again.
“That makes the climb even tougher, but it also makes it sweeter as well. We know that we’re going to come out there and enjoy the game and really go at it,” Cone told Philippine News Perth.
The veteran tactician revealed that Brownlee wanted to suit up despite the pain but ultimately accepted that sitting out was the best decision.
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“He did his best, but he’s just hurting too much. He just feels like he has no explosion. He feels like he’s hurting the team rather than helping the team,” Cone said.
“He’s given us so much, so it’s a much-deserved rest for him. We’ll soldier on without him.”
Brownlee’s absence leaves Gilas with an 11-man roster against a Boomers squad that has yet to lose in the qualifiers.
Cone is expected to lean heavily on the group that nearly pulled off an upset against the Tall Blacks — Juan Gomez de Liaño, Kevin Quiambao, Carl Tamayo, Dwight Ramos, and RJ Abarrientos.
Gomez de Liaño and Quiambao each erupted for 23 points against New Zealand, with the former adding six rebounds, four assists, and a steal. Ramos recovered from a slow start to finish with 18 points, four rebounds, three assists, two blocks, and a steal, while Tamayo chipped in 17 points behind three triples.
Abarrientos orchestrated the offense with 10 assists to complement his six points.
Completing the Gilas lineup are June Mar Fajardo, Chris Newsome, AJ Edu, Justine Baltazar, Mike Phillips, and the rest of the supporting cast tasked with filling the void left by Brownlee.
Cone insisted the team’s identity will not change despite losing its offensive centerpiece.
“There’s no real adjustment. We’re not going to do anything differently. We just have to do everything at a higher level. This gives an opportunity for other guys to step up,” he said.
The veteran coach pointed out that Gilas already had experience playing without Brownlee during its tune-up games against Franklin and Manawatu before the third window.
“We played the two friendlies without him in New Zealand, so there is experience of playing without him, and we’ll live with that. Again, we’ve got a talented group of guys, and one guy is not going to change the mix,” he said.
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The challenge, however, could hardly be tougher.
Gilas enters Monday’s contest riding a three-game losing streak in Pool A after opening the qualifiers with back-to-back victories over Guam. The Philippines also absorbed a 93-66 loss to Australia during their first meeting at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay.
Australia, meanwhile, has dominated the group with a perfect 5-0 record and enters the game fresh off a record-setting 124-52 demolition of Guam, where the Boomers buried a Qualifiers-record 24 three-pointers.
Tyrese Proctor, who plays for the Cleveland Cavaliers, led the shooting barrage with six triples en route to 22 points. Then Angus Glover knocked down five three-pointers for 19 points.
Bryce Cotton and Jack McVeigh added four triples apiece to finish with 18 and 14 points, respectively, while Reyne Smith hit three shots from beyond the arc. David Okwera and Mitch Creek also connected from deep.
The Boomers’ roster is rounded out by Taran Armstrong, Wani Swaka Lo Buluk, Josh Bannan, Alex Condon, and Keanu Pinder.
