Just when Filipino basketball fans were starting to enjoy Gilas Pilipinas’ impressive sweep of Jordan and Iran, Tim Cone and the national team have already moved on to the next challenge.
And this one looks completely different.
As of September 3, 2026, Gilas is now in South Korea preparing for the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan. The Philippines will enter the tournament as the defending men’s basketball champion after its unforgettable gold-medal run in 2023.
But the team trying to defend that championship will barely resemble the Gilas squad that just defeated Jordan and Iran in the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 Asian Qualifiers.
Kai Sotto?
Not currently with the team.
Dwight Ramos?
Unavailable.
AJ Edu?
Unavailable.
Kevin Quiambao?
Unavailable.
Carl Tamayo?
Unavailable.
June Mar Fajardo?
Retired from Gilas.
Justin Brownlee?
Still uncertain.
Instead, Cone has traveled to South Korea with an 11-man group built largely around PBA players, with Robert Bolick, Adrian Nocum, RJ Abarrientos, Zavier Lucero and several other names receiving an opportunity to carry the national team into the Asian Games.
And perhaps the biggest story of all is that Gilas intentionally left one roster position vacant.
That final spot is being held open primarily for Justin Brownlee.
If Brownlee gets healthy enough to play, Tim Cone wants him back.
If not, Gilas may have to defend its Asian Games championship with one of the most dramatically reconstructed Philippine teams we’ve seen in recent years.
Here is the latest Gilas Pilipinas update, including the current Asian Games roster, Justin Brownlee’s status, Kai Sotto’s situation, the South Korea tune-up games, the complete group-stage schedule and what to expect from this new-look national team.
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Gilas Pilipinas Is Already in South Korea
The turnaround is incredibly quick.
Gilas completed Window 4 of the World Cup qualifiers on August 30 with an impressive 68–56 victory over Iran.
Only a few days later, a different group of players was already flying to Seoul.
The Philippine team departed Manila on September 2 and is scheduled to play two exhibition games against the South Korean national team in Suwon before continuing to Japan.
The tune-up schedule is:
September 4, 2026
Gilas Pilipinas vs South Korea
September 6, 2026
Gilas Pilipinas vs South Korea
The games will be played in Suwon, at the home venue of the KBL’s Suwon KT Sonicboom.
After the second tune-up, Gilas is expected to travel to Japan as it completes its final preparations for the Asian Games.
These games might technically be exhibitions, but for Tim Cone they could be extremely valuable.
This is a newly assembled team.
It doesn’t have months to develop chemistry.
It barely has days.
Gilas Travels With Only 11 Players
Perhaps the most surprising part of the latest update is the roster size.
Gilas traveled to South Korea with only 11 players:
- Robert Bolick
- Adrian Nocum
- RJ Abarrientos
- Justin Arana
- Justine Baltazar
- Zavier Lucero
- Sedrick Barefield
- Jerrick Ahanmisi
- Don Trollano
- Brandon Bates
- Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser
That’s it for now.
There is no confirmed 12th player traveling with the squad.
And that is intentional.
Assistant coach Richard del Rosario confirmed that Gilas is keeping the final position open while waiting to see if Justin Brownlee becomes healthy enough to join the team.
For a major tournament, that is an unusual situation.
But considering what Brownlee means to Tim Cone and Philippine basketball, it makes sense.
Justin Brownlee Is Still Not Confirmed for the Asian Games
This is the story every Gilas fan should monitor over the next several days.
Brownlee did not play against Jordan or Iran in the World Cup qualifying window because he did not feel healthy enough to perform at the level Gilas needed.
Instead of forcing himself back, he sat out.
The Philippines somehow won both games without him.
But the Asian Games are a different situation.
Cone still wants Brownlee.
And he is willing to wait.
Cone said the door remains open for Justin as long as he feels physically ready. Del Rosario similarly explained that Gilas is keeping the 12th position available for him. If Brownlee is cleared, he could potentially travel directly from the United States to South Korea or Japan to join the national team.
That means the situation as of September 3 is:
Justin Brownlee is not officially confirmed to play.
But:
Gilas is clearly hoping he will.
That’s an important distinction.
Filipino fans should be careful with headlines declaring that Brownlee is already part of the final Asian Games lineup.
The team is preparing a place for him.
That doesn’t mean he has been medically cleared or has already joined the squad.
Why Gilas Is Willing to Wait for Brownlee
This hardly needs explaining to longtime Gilas fans.
Justin Brownlee is not an ordinary naturalized player in this program.
He is one of the central figures behind the Philippines’ 2023 Asian Games championship.
Brownlee produced one of the most memorable performances in recent Gilas history when the Philippines faced host China in the semifinals.
China led by as many as 20 points.
The game looked over.
Brownlee and Gilas kept fighting.
The Philippines eventually pulled off an astonishing 77–76 comeback victory to advance to the gold-medal game.
Then came Jordan.
Gilas won the final, 70–60.
Brownlee recorded 20 points, 10 rebounds and five assists as the Philippines won its first Asian Games men’s basketball gold medal since 1962.
That’s why Cone is prepared to wait.
Brownlee has already shown what he can do in this exact tournament.
The 2026 Gilas Asian Games Team Looks Almost Nothing Like the FIBA Team
This is probably the most fascinating part of the whole situation.
We have essentially seen two versions of Gilas Pilipinas within the span of one week.
The World Cup qualifying team
That group included players such as:
Kai Sotto
AJ Edu
Dwight Ramos
Kevin Quiambao
Carl Tamayo before his injury
CJ Perez
Scottie Thompson
Chris Newsome
Juan Gomez de Liaño
June Mar Fajardo
It was a big, physical team.
Kai and AJ gave Gilas tremendous size and rim protection.
June Mar added another veteran center.
Dwight provided steady perimeter play.
Quiambao gave Gilas another versatile offensive weapon.
That group beat Jordan and Iran.
Now most of them are gone from the Asian Games roster.
Only three players from the recent World Cup qualifying pool made the trip with this Asian Games group:
RJ Abarrientos
Justin Arana
Justine Baltazar
That’s an enormous roster turnover.
Why Aren’t Kai Sotto, Dwight Ramos, AJ Edu and Others Playing?
The main problem is club availability and scheduling.
Several Gilas players are based overseas, particularly in the Japanese B.League and Korean Basketball League.
The Asian Games schedule conflicts with their professional commitments.
Carl Tamayo and Kevin Quiambao were left out of the original Asian Games pool because of conflicts with the KBL calendar.
Other overseas-based players such as Dwight Ramos, AJ Edu, Quentin Millora-Brown, Mike Phillips and Jamie Malonzo are also unavailable for this version of Gilas.
This is one of the constant difficulties national teams face.
The best possible Philippine lineup on paper isn’t necessarily the lineup that can actually show up.
Tim Cone has to coach the players available.
And this time, that means building almost an entirely different team.
Is Kai Sotto Still a Possibility?
Interestingly, Cone hasn’t completely closed the door on Kai.
The Gilas coach said Sotto could theoretically still become an option depending on his schedule.
But that should not be interpreted as confirmation that Kai is joining the Asian Games squad.
Right now, he is not with the team in South Korea.
There are also major questions surrounding his next professional move.
The Philippine Star reported that Sotto sought NCAA clearance to play for Texas A&M but that the attempt was rejected because of his previous professional experience in Australia and Japan. The same report says he is now considering opportunities in several basketball markets, including Japan, South Korea, Taiwan and Europe, while NBA-related options remain part of the broader conversation.
That situation could affect his availability.
So for now:
Brownlee is the more obvious candidate for the open 12th spot.
Kai remains more of a possibility than a confirmed plan.
Tim Cone Calls Kai Sotto a “Difference-Maker”
Even though Kai isn’t currently with the Asian Games team, Cone’s latest comments show just how highly he views him.
The coach described Sotto as the “difference-maker” who helped push Gilas over the top in the recent qualifying window.
It’s difficult to argue.
Against Jordan:
18 points
14 rebounds
3 assists
2 blocks
Against Iran:
13 points
16 rebounds
3 assists
Thirty-one points and 30 rebounds across two games.
And two Gilas victories.
Without Brownlee, Sotto essentially became the interior centerpiece of the team.
The Asian Games group won’t have that luxury unless something changes.
That means Cone has to build a completely different style.
Expect Gilas to Play Faster
And that could actually be fun to watch.
The World Cup qualifying team could rely on its size.
The Asian Games squad has different strengths.
Look at the guards and wings:
Robert Bolick.
RJ Abarrientos.
Adrian Nocum.
Sedrick Barefield.
Zavier Lucero.
Jerrick Ahanmisi.
Don Trollano.
There is speed.
There is outside shooting.
There are players who can create off the dribble.
There are guards who are comfortable pushing the ball.
The challenge will be turning those individual qualities into an organized national-team offense quickly.
Gilas has already spent time preparing this group separately from the World Cup qualifying team.
While Cone concentrated on the Jordan and Iran games, assistants Richard del Rosario, Jong Uichico and Josh Reyes supervised the Asian Games pool.
The two Gilas groups even played two scrimmages against each other during their preparations, splitting the two games.
That’s an encouraging detail.
This Asian Games roster may not have the star power of the recent FIBA group, but it apparently showed that it could compete against it.
Robert Bolick Could Become the Offensive Leader
This might be one of the most interesting player stories of the tournament.
Robert Bolick is back in the Gilas picture.
And with so many established national-team scorers unavailable, the NLEX guard could become one of Cone’s primary offensive options.
Bolick is comfortable handling the ball.
He can create his own shot.
He can attack the basket.
He can shoot from outside.
And he has previous high-level Gilas experience, including being part of the Philippines’ 2019 FIBA World Cup team.
There may be moments when this offense needs someone to simply make something happen.
Brownlee normally fills that role.
Dwight Ramos can sometimes fill it.
Kevin Quiambao can create.
None of them are currently with this squad.
That could put more responsibility on Bolick.
Adrian Nocum Is Another Name to Watch
Adrian Nocum might end up being one of the breakout stories of this Asian Games campaign.
Nocum has been building a reputation as an energetic, aggressive guard who can attack defenses and create problems in transition.
And he apparently made an impression during Gilas preparation.
Sean Chambers, who worked with Cone’s coaching staff during the FIBA window, singled out Nocum as one of the players who impressed him during the Asian Games team’s scrimmages.
International tournaments often introduce casual Filipino fans to players they don’t normally follow closely.
Nocum could become one of them.
A strong performance against Bahrain or China and suddenly a lot more people will know his name.
RJ Abarrientos Gets Another Opportunity
RJ Abarrientos’ situation is also interesting.
He narrowly missed out on the final 12 against Jordan and Iran.
Now he becomes one of the key guards in the Asian Games squad.
That shows you how quickly roles can change in international basketball.
One week:
Outside the active World Cup qualifying lineup.
The next:
Preparing to help defend an Asian Games gold medal.
Abarrientos can provide speed, shooting and playmaking.
And because he is one of only three players from the recent FIBA pool carried into this roster, he may also have a little more familiarity with Cone’s current Gilas environment than several of his teammates.
Justin Arana’s Gilas Opportunity Keeps Growing
Justin Arana has had quite a week too.
He initially missed out on the final 12 against Jordan.
Then Carl Tamayo suffered an ankle injury.
Arana was activated against Iran.
He made his FIBA debut.
Now he is traveling with the Asian Games team.
This is how national-team careers sometimes begin.
Not because everything was planned perfectly.
An opportunity opens.
You take it.
Arana’s physicality could become useful against teams with bigger frontcourts, especially with Kai, AJ and June Mar unavailable.
Don Trollano Is Set for a Gilas Debut
Another interesting veteran story involves Don Trollano.
At 34, Trollano is the oldest member of the 11-player traveling squad and is set for his Gilas debut. The Philippine Star noted that he has also been producing strongly for San Miguel in the PBA Governors’ Cup, including effective three-point shooting.
That could be valuable.
Every national team needs players who don’t require the ball constantly.
Trollano can defend.
He can run the floor.
He can stretch the defense.
And he brings years of professional experience.
For a hastily assembled team, veterans who understand their roles are extremely useful.
Who Are Gilas’ Big Men for the Asian Games?
Without Kai Sotto, AJ Edu and June Mar Fajardo, the frontcourt looks completely different.
Current big-man options include:
Justin Arana
A physical interior presence who can rebound and defend.
Justine Baltazar
A versatile forward/big who can contribute in several areas.
Brandon Bates
Size, rebounding and interior defense.
Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser
Athleticism and versatility around the front line.
Zavier Lucero
A modern forward who can play multiple positions.
It’s not the enormous Sotto-Edu-Fajardo frontcourt we just watched against Jordan and Iran.
But it gives Cone some versatility.
The Philippines may simply have to win differently.
Gilas Pilipinas Asian Games 2026 Schedule
The Philippines has been drawn into Group C with:
- China
- Bahrain
- Kazakhstan
The official Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games schedule lists three group-stage games for Gilas.
Philippines vs Bahrain
Date: September 11, 2026
Japan time: 1:00 PM
Philippine time: 12:00 noon
Kazakhstan vs Philippines
Date: September 12, 2026
Japan time: 7:00 PM
Philippine time: 6:00 PM
China vs Philippines
Date: September 14, 2026
Japan time: 1:00 PM
Philippine time: 12:00 noon
Japan is one hour ahead of the Philippines, so Filipino viewers should remember to convert the official tournament times accordingly.
The final phase begins September 16, with the medal games scheduled for September 20.
Gilas vs Bahrain Opens the Title Defense
First comes Bahrain.
That may sound less glamorous than China, but Gilas cannot afford to look ahead.
The Philippines actually opened its 2023 Asian Games campaign against Bahrain too.
Gilas won that game, 89–61, with Brownlee leading the way.
But 2026 is a completely different tournament.
Different roster.
Different circumstances.
Different pressure.
The Philippines needs to establish its identity immediately.
For a newly assembled team, getting a comfortable opening win would be valuable.
It would give players confidence.
It would give Cone more opportunities to experiment with combinations.
And it would reduce the pressure going into the back-to-back Kazakhstan game.
Kazakhstan Comes the Very Next Day
This part of the schedule is tricky.
Gilas plays Bahrain on September 11.
Then Kazakhstan on September 12.
No rest day.
That means Cone’s depth could become important very quickly.
You don’t want Bolick or another key guard playing exhausting minutes in the opener if the game doesn’t require it.
This is where having players such as Nocum, Abarrientos, Barefield and Ahanmisi could become useful.
The Philippines needs contributions across the roster.
Especially during a condensed tournament.
Then Comes China
And this is the one almost everyone will circle.
China vs Philippines
September 14
12:00 noon Philippine Time
The storylines are obvious.
The Philippines is the defending champion.
China is one of Asia’s traditional basketball powers.
And everyone remembers what happened the last time these two teams met in the Asian Games.
Remember the Miracle Against China in 2023?
Gilas’ 2023 semifinal against China looked almost hopeless.
The Philippines trailed by 20.
China was playing at home.
The crowd was behind the hosts.
A place in the gold-medal game appeared to be slipping away.
Then Brownlee caught fire.
Gilas somehow came all the way back.
The Philippines won:
77–76
It remains one of the most unforgettable Gilas victories of the modern era.
Three days later, the Philippines beat Jordan, 70–60, to win Asian Games gold and end a 61-year championship drought.
Now China gets another shot at Gilas.
But this time, the Philippine roster could look almost nothing like the one that broke Chinese hearts in Hangzhou.
The Pressure of Defending the Gold Medal
This is something we haven’t experienced in a long time.
Gilas isn’t entering the Asian Games simply hoping to make a run.
The Philippines is entering as defending champion.
That changes expectations.
In 2023, the gold medal felt almost miraculous.
The team had roster issues before the tournament.
It lost badly to Jordan in the group stage.
It needed a one-point escape against Iran.
It needed that unbelievable comeback against China.
Then it beat Jordan when it mattered most.
The Philippines had not won Asian Games men’s basketball gold since 1962.
Now Gilas has to protect that crown.
And it has to do it with a significantly different lineup.
Can This Gilas Team Really Defend the Gold?
That’s probably the question most fans are asking.
The answer?
Yes, it can compete.
But defending the championship will be difficult.
This roster doesn’t have the size of the World Cup qualifying team.
It currently doesn’t have Brownlee.
It probably won’t have Kai.
It lacks several players with established international roles.
And the preparation period is short.
Those are legitimate concerns.
But there are also reasons for optimism.
The team is experienced.
Most of the players are professionals who have been through high-pressure PBA basketball.
There is guard depth.
There is shooting.
There is athleticism.
There are players hungry for larger Gilas roles.
And Tim Cone remains one of the biggest advantages the Philippines has.
Tim Cone Has Done This Before
Remember how chaotic the buildup to the 2023 Asian Games was?
There were roster changes.
Eligibility problems.
Limited preparation.
Plenty of doubt.
And somehow, Cone put together a team that won gold.
That doesn’t guarantee he can repeat the achievement.
But it does mean Filipino fans shouldn’t immediately dismiss this roster because the biggest names aren’t there.
Cone is very good at building roles.
He doesn’t necessarily need every player to be a superstar.
He needs five players on the floor who understand exactly what they are supposed to do.
The South Korea tune-ups should give him an important opportunity to start figuring that out.
Why the Korea Games Matter
Playing South Korea before the Asian Games is a strong test.
Korean basketball traditionally emphasizes:
- ball movement
- outside shooting
- fast decision-making
- spacing
- aggressive guard play
That’s exactly the kind of opponent that can expose defensive communication problems in a newly formed team.
Which is useful.
Gilas doesn’t need two easy exhibition wins.
It needs information.
Can this lineup defend the perimeter?
Can the guards control tempo?
Who closes games?
Who plays alongside Bolick?
Which big-man combination works?
Where does the scoring come from when the offense stalls?
Better to discover those answers in Suwon than in the Asian Games quarterfinals.
What Happens With the 12th Spot If Brownlee Can’t Play?
This remains unresolved.
Gilas has not publicly committed to another replacement.
The Philippine Star reported that there was no indication Geo Chiu would automatically receive the spot if Brownlee or Sotto could not join.
That means Cone may continue waiting.
A lot can happen before the tournament begins.
For now, though, the roster situation is straightforward:
11 players are with the team.
Brownlee is the priority for the final opening.
Kai remains a possible but uncertain option.
Anything beyond that would be speculation until Gilas makes another announcement.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the latest Gilas Pilipinas update?
Gilas has traveled to South Korea with 11 players to prepare for the 2026 Asian Games. The team will play two tune-up games against South Korea before continuing to Japan.
Who are the current Gilas players for the Asian Games?
The 11 players who traveled to Korea are Robert Bolick, Adrian Nocum, RJ Abarrientos, Justin Arana, Justine Baltazar, Zavier Lucero, Sedrick Barefield, Jerrick Ahanmisi, Don Trollano, Brandon Bates and Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser.
Why does Gilas have only 11 players?
Tim Cone is keeping the 12th position open while waiting to see whether Justin Brownlee becomes healthy enough to join the team.
Will Justin Brownlee play in the 2026 Asian Games?
It is not confirmed yet.
Cone has said the door remains open if Brownlee feels healthy enough to play. Gilas is currently holding the final roster spot for him.
Is Kai Sotto playing in the Asian Games?
Kai is not currently with the team in South Korea.
Cone has said the door remains open depending on Sotto’s schedule, but his participation has not been confirmed.
Why aren’t Dwight Ramos, AJ Edu, Kevin Quiambao and Carl Tamayo on the team?
Several overseas-based players are unavailable because of conflicts with their professional club schedules in Japan and South Korea.
When will Gilas play South Korea?
The Philippines is scheduled to play South Korea in tune-up games on September 4 and September 6 in Suwon.
When does Gilas start the Asian Games?
The Philippines opens against Bahrain on September 11.
What time is Gilas vs Bahrain?
The official schedule lists the game at 1:00 PM in Japan, which is 12:00 noon Philippine Time.
When is Gilas vs Kazakhstan?
Kazakhstan vs Philippines is scheduled for September 12 at 7:00 PM Japan time, or 6:00 PM Philippine Time.
When is Gilas vs China?
China vs Philippines is scheduled for September 14 at 1:00 PM in Japan, or 12:00 noon Philippine Time.
Is Gilas the defending Asian Games champion?
Yes.
The Philippines defeated Jordan, 70–60, in the 2023 Asian Games final to win its first men’s basketball gold medal since 1962.
Who led Gilas to the 2023 Asian Games gold medal?
Justin Brownlee was one of the biggest stars of the run. He had 20 points, 10 rebounds and five assists in the championship victory over Jordan and also played a central role in the historic semifinal comeback against China.
Final Thoughts
This might be one of the strangest transitions we’ve seen from Gilas Pilipinas.
Only days ago, we were watching Kai Sotto grab 16 rebounds against Iran.
We were talking about Dwight Ramos.
AJ Edu.
Kevin Quiambao.
June Mar Fajardo saying goodbye.
Gilas had just completed an impressive 2–0 World Cup qualifying window and revived its road to Qatar.
Now almost all of those players are gone from the immediate picture.
Instead:
Robert Bolick.
Adrian Nocum.
RJ Abarrientos.
Zavier Lucero.
Sedrick Barefield.
Justin Arana.
Justine Baltazar.
Brandon Bates.
Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser.
Jerrick Ahanmisi.
Don Trollano.
Eleven players heading to Korea.
One empty roster spot.
And everyone waiting for Justin Brownlee.
That’s Philippine national-team basketball for you.
The lineup can change almost overnight.
But the expectation remains exactly the same.
Compete.
The Philippines isn’t going to Japan as an underdog hoping people notice.
Gilas is going there as the defending Asian Games champion.
That gold medal carries weight.
China remembers 2023.
Jordan remembers 2023.
The rest of Asia knows what Gilas accomplished.
And now Tim Cone has to see whether a completely different group can do something special again.
The first answers should come quickly.
South Korea on September 4.
South Korea again on September 6.
Then Bahrain.
Kazakhstan.
China.
And somewhere in the middle of all of that, Filipino fans will continue asking the biggest roster question:
Will Justin Brownlee show up?
If he does, Gilas gets back the man who produced some of the greatest moments of its 2023 championship run.
If he doesn’t?
Then this new group will have to create its own story.
Either way, the 2026 Asian Games title defense has officially begun.
