We use cookies to ensure you get the best browsing experience. By continued use, you agree to our privacy policy and accept our use of such cookies. For further information, click FIND OUT MORE.

- Home
- News
- Entertainment
- Lifestyle
- Sparkle GMA Artist Center
- Radio
- Music
- Pictures
- GMA Pinoy TV
- Kapuso Foundation
- Regional TV
- Corporate
- GMA Play
- GTV
- GMA Affordabox
- GMA Now

- News * Ulat Filipino * Opinion * Nation * World * Regions * Metro * Special Reports
- Money * Economy * Personal Finance * Companies * Motoring
- Sports * Volleyball * Basketball * Boxing * Football * Other sports
- Pinoy Abroad * Dispatch * Pinoy Achievers * Immigration Guide
- Weather
- SciTech * Science and Research * Technology, Gadgets and Gaming
- Showbiz * Pep * Chika Minute * Showbiz Abroad
- Lifestyle * Family and Relationships * Travel * Food * Art and Culture * Health and Wellness * Shopping and Fashion * Hobbies and Activities
- Serbisyo Publiko * Walang Pasok * Transportation * Missing Persons
- Community Bulletin Board
- GMA Brandtalk
- GMA Public Affairs
- Tracking
- Archives
- 24 Oras
- State of the Nation
- Saksi
- Unang Balita
- Balitanghali
- QRT
- News TV Live
Photo
Radio
Video

380
2
0
0
0 Share

Filtered by: Sports

Sports

FIBA World Cup Qualifiers

KQ, other Gilas young guns to take charge vs. Australia as Justin Brownlee sits out

By BEA MICALLER, GMA News

Published July 6, 2026 12:59pm

+ Add GMA on Google

Make this your preferred source to get more updates from this publisher on Google.

Kevin Quiambao of Gilas Pilipinas. Photo: fiba.basketball

With Justin Brownlee unavailable, the spotlight shifts to Gilas Pilipinas' young guns as the national team faces Australia in its final game of the FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers' third window on Monday.

The Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) announced that the naturalized import will sit out the match due to a right hamstring strain, right peroneal tendinopathy, and left knee swelling with cartilage defects.

With Brownlee out, Gilas is expected to rely heavily on youth movement led by Kevin Quiambao, Juan Gomez de Liaño, Carl Tamayo, Mike Phillips, AJ Edu, Dwight Ramos, and RJ Abarrientos.

"So that was the vision from the very beginning when we put this team together, that they, at one point, would be the main guys and it may be coming a little more quickly than we thought," Gilas head coach Tim Cone said on Friday.

"But they are certainly stepping up and playing at a much higher level than they were when they were first on the team."

If their previous outing against New Zealand is any indication, Gilas Pilipinas' young guns have shown they are ready to take the reins.

Need a wellness break? Sign up for The Boost!

Stay up-to-date with the latest health and wellness reads.

Please enter a valid email address

Quiambao and Gomez de Liaño emerged as Gilas Pilipinas' primary offensive weapons against the Tall Blacks with the two players each scoring 23 points to offset Brownlee's unusually quiet outing. The veteran naturalized forward attempted just three shots and made two of them throughout the game.

Ramos and Tamayo posted 18 and 17 markers, respectively, while Abarrientos had six points, 10 assists, and five rebounds.

But their efforts were still not enough to get the win as Gilas Pilipinas faded in the endgame to absorb a heartbreaking 106-102 double overtime loss to New Zealand.

Gilas now has a 2-3 win-loss record in Group A, but has already qualified for the second round. New Zealand is still in second spot with a 3-2 card behind leader Australia, who remains unbeaten at 5-0.

"So we're real proud of those young guys for continuing to improve. And they both play in Korea, KQ and Carl. So, you know, they get a lot of improvement there," Cone added.

"And Juan is becoming one of the premier point guards in our league back in Manila. So again, they have great futures ahead of them."

Gilas will face the world no. 6 Boomers, who are coming off a 124-52 blowout victory over Guam behind Tyrese Proctor's 22 points and Angus Glover's 19-point outing.

—JMB, GMA News

Tags: Gilas Pilipinas, Australia basketball, FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers, Kevin Quiambao, Justin Brownlee

Need a wellness break? Sign up for The Boost!

Stay up-to-date with the latest health and wellness reads.

Please enter a valid email address

About GMA News Online

On TV

News

Multimedia

Stay Connected

Tools

GMANetwork.com

Next Story FIFA World Cup: Neymar says career with Brazil 'over' after loss to Norway

ShareThis Copy and Paste

KQ, other Gilas young guns to take charge vs. Australia as Justin Brownlee sits out

KQ, other Gilas young guns to take charge vs. Australia as Justin Brownlee sits out

At a Glance

News

Brand Talk

Money

Sports

Pinoy Abroad

SciTech

Showbiz

Lifestyle

Weather

We Care About Your Privacy

How and why we process data