Gilas Pilipinas returns to Ateneo’s Blue Eagle Gym for historic FIBA World Cup qualifier clash vs Guam

For the first time in years, Gilas Pilipinas will bring the national colors back to one of Philippine basketball’s most storied venues — the Blue Eagle Gym inside the Ateneo de Manila University campus — when it hosts Guam on December 1 in the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 Asian Qualifiers.

The refurbished gym, once the cradle of collegiate rivalries and national team memories, will once again echo with the cheers of Filipino fans as Tim Cone’s Gilas squad aims to strengthen its campaign for a World Cup berth.

The December 1 fixture marks Gilas’ second game of the qualifying window, coming just three days after their away matchup against Guam on November 28, which kicks off their Group A schedule. The group also features basketball powerhouses Australia and New Zealand, making every game crucial in the long road to the 2027 FIBA World Cup in Qatar.

It’s a symbolic return for the national team to a venue that holds deep roots in Philippine basketball history. 

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The Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) has announced that the historic Blue Eagle Gym at the Ateneo de Manila University will play host to the Gilas Pilipinas’ home game against Guam in Window 1 of the FIBA World Cup 2027 Asian Qualifiers on December 1, 2025.#GilasPilipinas pic.twitter.com/NiguFAfqoC

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The Blue Eagle Gym, now freshly renovated and re-equipped with modern amenities, has recently hosted UAAP games, including an unforgettable triple-overtime showdown between University of Santo Tomas and Ateneo last October 11 — a fitting reminder of the venue’s enduring magic.

While the Smart Araneta Coliseum and Mall of Asia Arena have been the regular homes of Gilas in recent years, the decision to bring the qualifier to Katipunan underscores the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas’ intent to reconnect with the sport’s community spirit — intimate, passionate, and close to the fans.

Tickets for the game are now available, the SBP announced, with the federation expecting a packed house as Gilas defends home soil in a rare return to the 1950s-built hardwood that once hosted international tournaments.

The December meeting will also reunite Gilas with a familiar face: Jericho Cruz, the fiery San Miguel Beer guard who leads Guam’s squad and has proven capable of taking over games in international play.

For Coach Tim Cone, it will be an opportunity to gauge how far his team has come under the new system, and how the country’s next generation of national stars can perform in front of a more intimate — yet emotionally charged — home crowd.

As the Blue Eagle Gym prepares to open its doors for a night of national pride, the return of Gilas Pilipinas to its storied court represents more than just a basketball game. It’s a celebration of history, heritage, and homecoming — one that bridges the country’s glorious basketball past with its ambitious future on the world stage.

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