Gilas Pilipinas take on Australia at RAC Arena in Perth on Monday, July 6, at 6:30 pm Philippine time, in their second game of the third window of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 Asian Qualifiers. The Philippines enter the Group A meeting at 2-3, facing a Boomers side that is 5-0 and ranked No. 6 in the world.

The last meeting was not close. Australia beat Gilas by 27 points, 93-66, in the first window, and the rematch comes on Australian soil.

No Brownlee, and a Harder Path

Justin Brownlee will miss the game. The naturalized forward is dealing with a hamstring strain and peroneal tendinopathy in his right leg, along with swelling and cartilage defects in his left knee.

Brownlee has been the safety valve for Gilas in close games for years. Without him, the scoring load shifts to the younger core, against the best defensive program in the region.

Australia’s New Weapon

The Boomers will again have Bryce Cotton, the six-time NBL MVP who made his debut for the Australian national team on July 3. Adding the most dominant scorer in Australian domestic basketball to a 5-0 qualifying side is about as unfair as it sounds.

For Gilas, the assignment is containment. Keep the game in the 70s and the margin manageable, and the trip to Perth still serves its purpose in the standings.

How to Watch From the Philippines

One Sports will air the game with a free livestream on its official YouTube channel. The game is also available on the Pilipinas Live app and website, with TV coverage on One Sports, One Sports+ and RPTV.

Qualifying windows are short, and every result moves the math. A competitive loss in Perth keeps Gilas alive in the group. A blowout makes the home fixtures heavier.

Tip-off is 6:30 pm Philippine time on Monday, July 6, at RAC Arena in Perth.