Mike Phillips set for Gilas debut vs Australia, New Zealand

Mike Phillips has been cleared by Fiba to play as a local for Gilas Pilipinas.–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines–Mike Phillips was selected to the 12-man roster of Gilas Pilipinas, which will be missing some key players for the third window of the Fiba World Cup Asian Qualifiers.

The La Salle product and MPBL standout for San Juan is set to make his international debut for the two road games against Australia and New Zealand after Fiba declared him a local player.

Gilas, however, won’t have Quentin Millora-Brown and Calvin Oftana for the conclusion of the first round qualification, leaving coach Tim Cone with a different lineup than in previous windows.

Headlining the squad are PBA Press Corps Finals Most Valuable Player Scottie Thompson, Troy Rosario, Best Player of the Conference RJ Abarrientos and naturalized player Justin Brownlee, who all played key roles in Barangay Ginebra’s road to the Commissioner’s Cup title.

Also included in the 12-man roster are PBA standouts June Mar Fajardo, Chris Newsome and Justin Baltazar, along with Kevin Quiambao and Carl Tamayo from the Korean Basketball League.

Dwight Ramos completed the roster as the only B.League player for the window.

Gilas will have its hands full for the qualifiers after losing to both Oceania teams at home during the second window in late February.

This time, the Nationals will be travelling to Auckland for the July 3 contest with New Zealand before heading to Perth for the July 6 matchup against Australia.

The Philippines carries a 2-2 record in Group A, but is already assured of a spot in the second round of the qualification stage for the 2027 competition in Doha.