2026 PBA Governor's Cup

[bisdak40]

Based on the schedule, their next opponents are Syria, Iran, Jordan, and then Syria again. I think Gilas has a good chance in those games, especially since they already proved they can beat Iran and Jordan. ( 2 this year, 2 early next year)

To be specific, these are the Gilas schedule of games below:

Gilas vs Syria - November 27
Gilas vs Iran - November 30
Gilas vs Jordan - February 25, 2027
Gilas vs Syria - February 28, 2027

If Gilas will once again sweep the next window there is that high possibility they will qualify for the FIBA World Cup because they will be in the top 3 of Group E. We just hope that Justine Brownlee will be back healthy by then, even if we beat Iran without him but we will be a better team offensively with Brownlee around and Kai Sotto could concentrate more on the defensive end.

As for coach Tim Cone talking to the Heat about bringing Kai Sotto there, there is a small chance that talk would progress. I'm not pessimistic but there are good centers that are more agile and quick than Kai but still didn't get the job.

[mirakal]

Based on the schedule, their next opponents are Syria, Iran, Jordan, and then Syria again. I think Gilas has a good chance in those games, especially since they already proved they can beat Iran and Jordan. ( 2 this year, 2 early next year)

To be specific, these are the Gilas schedule of games below:

Gilas vs Syria - November 27
Gilas vs Iran - November 30
Gilas vs Jordan - February 25, 2027
Gilas vs Syria - February 28, 2027

If Gilas will once again sweep the next window there is that high possibility they will qualify for the FIBA World Cup because they will be in the top 3 of Group E. We just hope that Justine Brownlee will be back healthy by then, even if we beat Iran without him but we will be a better team offensively with Brownlee around and Kai Sotto could concentrate more on the defensive end.

I’m fine without Brownlee, I guess, as long as Kai Sotto is there. I actually think the ball movement looks better without Brownlee sometimes, but Kai’s presence as a rim protector is really huge.

Still, Kai alone cannot do everything. For me, the best combination is Kai and Edu because they give Gilas size, rebounding and better protection inside.

But if Brownlee really comes back, hopefully Coach Tim Cone can adjust the strategy so Kai and Edu will still be effective together. With that kind of lineup, I think Gilas should have a very good chance to win those games.

[Maslate]

But if Brownlee really comes back, hopefully Coach Tim Cone can adjust the strategy so Kai and Edu will still be effective together. With that kind of lineup, I think Gilas should have a very good chance to win those games.

Tim Cone said he will keep a spot open for Brownlee when he returns, but the problem is there is still no clear news on when that will happen.

Most likely, if Brownlee returns healthy, he can also play again for Ginebra and possibly replace their current import. But I don’t want them to rush him back because the current import is already doing well for the team. What is more important for me is having Brownlee fully healthy for Gilas and continuing to improve the national team roster.

I’m just wondering though, with the PBA returning on October 7, will Brownlee already be ready by that time?

[Mr. Magkaisa]

But if Brownlee really comes back, hopefully Coach Tim Cone can adjust the strategy so Kai and Edu will still be effective together. With that kind of lineup, I think Gilas should have a very good chance to win those games.

Tim Cone said he will keep a spot open for Brownlee when he returns, but the problem is there is still no clear news on when that will happen.

Most likely, if Brownlee returns healthy, he can also play again for Ginebra and possibly replace their current import. But I don’t want them to rush him back because the current import is already doing well for the team. What is more important for me is having Brownlee fully healthy for Gilas and continuing to improve the national team roster.

I’m just wondering though, with the PBA returning on October 7, will Brownlee already be ready by that time?

Abai is out! therefore there a slot vacant for that. I love brownlee, he is one of the best import we have in PBA and a naturalize player which carry the flag.
But I hope we can do the ALL FILIPINO (in blood) line up and get that qualifying round in our team.
We did it before and wecan do it again. Also, the play now is to anyone who is qualified to shoot and fee, with JB, we are focus on him.  they know who will get the ball.

[bhadz]

Tim Cone said he will keep a spot open for Brownlee when he returns, but the problem is there is still no clear news on when that will happen.

Most likely, if Brownlee returns healthy, he can also play again for Ginebra and possibly replace their current import. But I don’t want them to rush him back because the current import is already doing well for the team. What is more important for me is having Brownlee fully healthy for Gilas and continuing to improve the national team roster.

I’m just wondering though, with the PBA returning on October 7, will Brownlee already be ready by that time?

I hope that all of the management will agree to prioritize the Gilas roster for Brownlee. Even if the all pinoy roster is doing good, they need him still. We all know about that and he's impactful to the team and he'll be more usable together with Kai and the others there. And I hope that the PBA won't be selfish for him if the return of the PBA is near. The consecutive wins of Gilas should give the impression to the PBA management that they need to cooperate with them and give all the support they need if there's a need to adjust, they have to do it.

[bisdak40]

Abai is out! therefore there a slot vacant for that. I love brownlee, he is one of the best import we have in PBA and a naturalize player which carry the flag.
But I hope we can do the ALL FILIPINO (in blood) line up and get that qualifying round in our team.
We did it before and wecan do it again. Also, the play now is to anyone who is qualified to shoot and fee, with JB, we are focus on him.  they know who will get the ball.

Tim Cone is considering QMB and Mike Miller to replace Junemar Fajardo in the Gilas line-up and that would a great addition because both players are agile and athletic and could fit well with the system of coach Tim Cone.

Coach Tim Cone is providing a slot in the Gilas Asian Games roster which means that whenever he is available to play and be back in the Philippines before the Asian Games start then he could play but for me it is better not to rush his situation, he needs to fully heal because defending the Asian Games gold medal is a hill climb considering the roster that the Gilas is sending which is relatively smaller than the Gilas FIBA squad that played Jordan and Iran.

Speaking of Asian Games, below is the Gilas schedule of the upcoming tournament.

🏀 Gilas Pilipinas Group C Schedule (Asian Games 2026)
September 11, 12:00 PM (PHT) – Philippines vs. Bahrain
September 12, 6:00 PM (PHT) – Philippines vs. Kazakhstan
September 14, 12:00 PM (PHT) – Philippines vs. China

[LogitechMouse]

---

I hope that all of the management will agree to prioritize the Gilas roster for Brownlee. Even if the all pinoy roster is doing good, they need him still. We all know about that and he's impactful to the team and he'll be more usable together with Kai and the others there. And I hope that the PBA won't be selfish for him if the return of the PBA is near. The consecutive wins of Gilas should give the impression to the PBA management that they need to cooperate with them and give all the support they need if there's a need to adjust, they have to do it.

Despite of the all-local players playing well, having a naturalized player is still different and aside from that, the team has a higher win rate when both Kai and Brownlee is playing. Speaking of Kai, there might be a chance that he might not play on the 5th window because of the schedule. There's a chance that in the day where the 5th window starts, Sotto might have been playing on a team already and there's a conflict of schedule which might prevent him from coming back and play. Let's see if that's not what will happen.

Putting Brownlee on the team really is helpful, but assuming that he's still not healthy during that time, we still have Boatwright as our substitute naturalized player, and by then I believe that the naturalization is over already. Boatwright could still give you 20 PPG and he's a great stretch big as well. I don't see him on par with how good Brownlee is, but having one is better still than having none.

We still have 4 games left, and our Gilas needs 3 wins to advance. 2 of our games are against Syria which for me is a sure win already. Although it's better if we will win against both Jordan and Iran, winning on one of those 2 games could put our team on the 3rd spot which is a sure spot for the upcoming World Cup.

[Mr. Magkaisa]

Abai is out! therefore there a slot vacant for that. I love brownlee, he is one of the best import we have in PBA and a naturalize player which carry the flag.
But I hope we can do the ALL FILIPINO (in blood) line up and get that qualifying round in our team.
We did it before and wecan do it again. Also, the play now is to anyone who is qualified to shoot and fee, with JB, we are focus on him.  they know who will get the ball.

Tim Cone is considering QMB and Mike Miller to replace Junemar Fajardo in the Gilas line-up and that would a great addition because both players are agile and athletic and could fit well with the system of coach Tim Cone.

Coach Tim Cone is providing a slot in the Gilas Asian Games roster which means that whenever he is available to play and be back in the Philippines before the Asian Games start then he could play but for me it is better not to rush his situation, he needs to fully heal because defending the Asian Games gold medal is a hill climb considering the roster that the Gilas is sending which is relatively smaller than the Gilas FIBA squad that played Jordan and Iran.

Speaking of Asian Games, below is the Gilas schedule of the upcoming tournament.

🏀 Gilas Pilipinas Group C Schedule (Asian Games 2026)
September 11, 12:00 PM (PHT) – Philippines vs. Bahrain
September 12, 6:00 PM (PHT) – Philippines vs. Kazakhstan
September 14, 12:00 PM (PHT) – Philippines vs. China

QMB is a great addition to the team, I can see Stanhardinger in him in smaller form. But the skill and the power is there also he play [hisically strong.
For those matches I am more interested with China. PH vs CHina! I remember When Asi  Taulava jump vs Yao Ming for the Jump ball. 

I will still hold my glass and watch it. no betting ^_^

[Maslate]

I thought they had no games this month, but with those three games, at least we have something worth waiting for.

I’d like them to win all three, but that matchup with China will be quite challenging. We’ve done it before though, so I believe we can do it again.

I’m assuming Brownlee still won’t be available, but that’s fine because the current lineup is already good enough. With Kai Sotto there, nothing is impossible. His size will be very important against China, especially considering how big their frontcourt usually is.

[bhadz]

I hope that all of the management will agree to prioritize the Gilas roster for Brownlee. Even if the all pinoy roster is doing good, they need him still. We all know about that and he's impactful to the team and he'll be more usable together with Kai and the others there. And I hope that the PBA won't be selfish for him if the return of the PBA is near. The consecutive wins of Gilas should give the impression to the PBA management that they need to cooperate with them and give all the support they need if there's a need to adjust, they have to do it.

Despite of the all-local players playing well, having a naturalized player is still different and aside from that, the team has a higher win rate when both Kai and Brownlee is playing. Speaking of Kai, there might be a chance that he might not play on the 5th window because of the schedule. There's a chance that in the day where the 5th window starts, Sotto might have been playing on a team already and there's a conflict of schedule which might prevent him from coming back and play. Let's see if that's not what will happen.

Putting Brownlee on the team really is helpful, but assuming that he's still not healthy during that time, we still have Boatwright as our substitute naturalized player, and by then I believe that the naturalization is over already. Boatwright could still give you 20 PPG and he's a great stretch big as well. I don't see him on par with how good Brownlee is, but having one is better still than having none.

We still have 4 games left, and our Gilas needs 3 wins to advance. 2 of our games are against Syria which for me is a sure win already. Although it's better if we will win against both Jordan and Iran, winning on one of those 2 games could put our team on the 3rd spot which is a sure spot for the upcoming World Cup.

I don't know about that matter for Kai that on the 5th window, he's unlikely to play. But I hope that his handler or team will allow him to play for Gilas at that time because AFAIK, he's binded into the contract from the league that he's playing right now. I don't want to be assured of Syria but, they have to win those games on them and we can see on how good the team is right now. Let's just hope that this streak is not going to end any time soon because if it does, the whole country is going to be sad of how it will end.

[fullfitlarry]

I thought they had no games this month, but with those three games, at least we have something worth waiting for.

I’d like them to win all three, but that matchup with China will be quite challenging. We’ve done it before though, so I believe we can do it again.

I like all our chances on those games for this month. Even if we are going to be the underdog, I will silently throw some money on our Gilas Team. Just sort out of giving them good vibes. If we lost, then nothing to be ashamed of, as you have said, we have done it before and it's close to be a miracle to bet a powerful team like China.

I’m assuming Brownlee still won’t be available, but that’s fine because the current lineup is already good enough. With Kai Sotto there, nothing is impossible. His size will be very important against China, especially considering how big their frontcourt usually is.

Let's assumed that, for sure coach Tim Cone should have known it better. We still need to have Kai though, he is a polarizer in the middle, he just don't score points, but protect our paint. And then there are a lot of great players in our squad again that even the second unit is good enough to give any team a run.

[bisdak40]

I thought they had no games this month, but with those three games, at least we have something worth waiting for.

I’d like them to win all three, but that matchup with China will be quite challenging. We’ve done it before though, so I believe we can do it again.

I’m assuming Brownlee still won’t be available, but that’s fine because the current lineup is already good enough. With Kai Sotto there, nothing is impossible. His size will be very important against China, especially considering how big their frontcourt usually is.

Sorry bro but the lineup of Gilas in the coming Asian Games is very much different from that of the FIBA Qualifiers as this coming Asian games, only players from the PBA would be there to represent. The three players from the Gilas FIBA would beef-up the roster, Justine Arana, Justine Baltazar and RJ Abarrientos. This lineup is quicker but smaller so we can't expect them to beat China this time around. The favorites to win the gold medal this year i think is China and Japan if Roi Hachimura will going to play in this tournament.

Robert Bolick – NLEX Road Warriors
RJ Abarrientos – Barangay Ginebra
Adrian Nocum – Rain or Shine
Sedrick Barefield – Blackwater
Jerrick Ahanmisi – San Miguel
Don Trollano – San Miguel
Zavier Lucero – Magnolia
Brandon Bates – Meralco
Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser – TNT
Justine Baltazar – Converge
Justin Arana – Converge

[mirakal]

Why are they bringing all the Filipino players? Isn't this tournament not as important as the FIBA World Cup Qualifiers?

If this is the team that will represent us, which I believe is still inferior to the team with Kai Sotto, then I'm just hoping our opponents won't bring their best players either so we still have a good chance of winning. Still, I'm excited to watch them. Any game where Gilas represents the Philippines, I always feel the need to support them. There's just something different about seeing our national team win, it really makes me proud.

[Maslate]

Why are they bringing all the Filipino players? Isn't this tournament not as important as the FIBA World Cup Qualifiers?

It has been reported already before that coach Tim will create 2 teams to represent 2 tournaments.

If this is the team that will represent us, which I believe is still inferior to the team with Kai Sotto, then I'm just hoping our opponents won't bring their best players either so we still have a good chance of winning. Still, I'm excited to watch them. Any game where Gilas represents the Philippines, I always feel the need to support them. There's just something different about seeing our national team win, it really makes me proud.

Just trust the team. Remember, we already won two games in Manila even without Brownlee. We should trust our local players even without Kai Sotto.

We are also the defending champions here. We beat Jordan in the 2023 Asian Games final, so the team should have the confidence that they can do it again.

[Ziskinberg]

We are also the defending champions here. We beat Jordan in the 2023 Asian Games final, so the team should have the confidence that they can do it again.

Yes, who would forget that? But the journey was not easy. It was a close match against Jordan, and having Justin Brownlee really made a big difference.

So imagine how difficult it will be against China, especially with their size and talent. We already have a scheduled game against them, and for me it’s hard to trust the team blindly just because we want to support them. It’s different once we are already risking money. So I might just skip betting on that game and simply watch and support Gilas.

[bisdak40]

Why are they bringing all the Filipino players? Isn't this tournament not as important as the FIBA World Cup Qualifiers?

If this is the team that will represent us, which I believe is still inferior to the team with Kai Sotto, then I'm just hoping our opponents won't bring their best players either so we still have a good chance of winning. Still, I'm excited to watch them. Any game where Gilas represents the Philippines, I always feel the need to support them. There's just something different about seeing our national team win, it really makes me proud.

I did a little research on why the change in the lineup for the Asian Games and this is what i found. AJ Edu and Dwight Ramos had a conflict with the schedule due to Japan B.League Manila Games (Sept 9–10) while Kai Sotto is exploring his chance in the NCAA in the US that is why he is resting right now.

As what i have observed, teams that competing in the Asian Games usually send their best players in the tournament if there are no conflict in the schedule and we might see Japan's Roi Hachimura playing in this year's Asian Games as Japan is really serious of becoming a feared team in the whole of Asia.

[Ziskinberg]

This is bad..

Gilas suffers 26-point beatdown in tuneup vs Korea

With that kind of performance, it’s hard to expect too much from the team right now. This team looks completely different from the Gilas lineup with Kai Sotto, and if this is really the all-PBA team that will compete in the Asian Games, then I’m not sure they have the same level of size and talent.

[Maslate]

This is bad..

Gilas suffers 26-point beatdown in tuneup vs Korea

With that kind of performance, it’s hard to expect too much from the team right now. This team looks completely different from the Gilas lineup with Kai Sotto, and if this is really the all-PBA team that will compete in the Asian Games, then I’m not sure they have the same level of size and talent.

What a shame. Remember, this is only a tune-up game, so it makes you wonder how they will perform once the actual competition starts.

Maybe this will make Coach Tim realize how important our overseas-based players really are. It also raises questions about how well we are developing talent locally compared with players getting experience abroad. Still, this is only a tune-up. Hopefully they learn from it, make the necessary adjustments, and prove us wrong when the real games begin.

[mirakal]

I did a little research on why the change in the lineup for the Asian Games and this is what i found. AJ Edu and Dwight Ramos had a conflict with the schedule due to Japan B.League Manila Games (Sept 9–10) while Kai Sotto is exploring his chance in the NCAA in the US that is why he is resting right now.

Good research, now we understand why they didn't play, its conflict of schedule.

As what i have observed, teams that competing in the Asian Games usually send their best players in the tournament if there are no conflict in the schedule and we might see Japan's Roi Hachimura playing in this year's Asian Games as Japan is really serious of becoming a feared team in the whole of Asia.

It’s really hard for us to beat that Japan team, they have several players with NBA experience and they’re probably one of the strongest teams in Asia.
I mean Asia in the traditional sense, because once we talk about FIBA Asia, Australia is also included, and I still believe Australia is the strongest team in the region.

So against Japan, Gilas would really need its best lineup and almost everything has to go right for us to win. ( if they will meet).

[bisdak40]

It’s really hard for us to beat that Japan team, they have several players with NBA experience and they’re probably one of the strongest teams in Asia.
I mean Asia in the traditional sense, because once we talk about FIBA Asia, Australia is also included, and I still believe Australia is the strongest team in the region.

So against Japan, Gilas would really need its best lineup and almost everything has to go right for us to win. ( if they will meet).

Japan has had some trouble when facing Gilas in the recent years but with their recent lineup where Roi Hachimura and Yuta Watanabi are playing for sure Gilas will be the ones in trouble.

In the Asian Games, Japan is one of the teams to beat alongside China. TBH, this coming Asian Games, i'm not so excited because of the roster change but nevertheless i will still support the team by putting some bets on them when necessary.

Gilas just completed their two tune-up games against South Korea and the result wasn't impressive for them as they were blown out on those two games, South Korea were deadly on the rainbow as usual while Gilas 2.0's chemistry was clearly wasn't there.