Gilas gets to work despite missing Kai Sotto, Jamie Malonzo, and Quentin Millora-Brown 

The first day of camp wasn’t about who wasn’t there. It was about who showed up.

At Inspire Sports Academy in Laguna, Gilas Pilipinas opened preparations for the FIBA World Cup 2027 Asian Qualifiers with a group that looked smaller than expected — but deliberate.

Nine pool players hit the floor Tuesday, setting the tone for a five-day buildup ahead of crucial home games against New Zealand on February 27 and Australia on March 1. 

Dwight Ramos flew in from Hokkaido just a night earlier and immediately joined holdovers Justin Brownlee, June Mar Fajardo, Scottie Thompson, CJ Perez, Chris Newsome, and RJ Abarrientos. Also in uniform were Juan Gomez de Liano and Justine Baltazar, both eager to solidify their spots in a competitive rotation.

The early sessions carried a familiar rhythm. Much of the core remains intact, and that continuity matters for a team that has already built momentum with a 2-0 record in Pool A.

Still, this window comes with visible absences.

Quentin Millora-Brown remains out as discussions between his camp and the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas continue, with no finalized national team contract in place. Kai Sotto, currently playing in Japan with Koshigaya, is still regaining full strength after an ACL tear last year. Jamie Malonzo, the hero of the 33rd Southeast Asian Games, will also sit out this stretch.

“Jamie is in the States and was not available. We did invite him, but he hopes to join the next window,” Gilas head coach Tim Cone said. 

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If reports are to be believed, Kai Sotto only received a $12k (₱695k) offer to play two games for Gilas in the upcoming window hence his subsequent unwillingness to suit up? By comparison, NBA stars get a $2.5k (₱145k) per game stipend to play in grand events like the Olympics. https://t.co/moxZ6Mekrh

— PBA insider (@PBAinsider) February 16, 2026

Rather than scrambling, the coaching staff appears to be leaning into flexibility. AJ Edu is expected to reinforce the squad later this week, along with KBL standouts Kevin Quiambao and Carl Tamayo. Their arrival should inject additional size and versatility into Cone’s system.

Interestingly, even those outside the official 16-man pool have been folded into the program. Troy Rosario is present despite not being listed for this window, while Far Eastern University’s American student-athlete Montell Shelton has been tapped as a practice player — a move that ensures competitive reps without overextending the rotation.

Because of the current numbers, Cone will only need to trim one name before finalizing the lineup for the two home assignments. That relative stability offers a contrast to past windows, where last-minute changes and availability issues often forced significant adjustments.

This time, the story feels different.

The foundation is largely in place. The chemistry is familiar. The urgency is clear.

Gilas isn’t at full strength — not yet. But with a spotless 2-0 slate and two high-level opponents looming, the focus inside Inspire isn’t on who’s missing.

It’s on protecting home court and proving that continuity, even in limited numbers, can be enough.

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