Gilas faces tough competition from Australia, New Zealand for 2027 FIBA World Cup spot; Iran also strong rival

The Philippines faces tough competition in securing one of the last Asian spots for the 2027 FIBA World Cup, with Iran being a significant rival.

Gilas is placed in Group A alongside Australia, New Zealand, and Guam, while Iran is part of Group C along with Jordan, Syria, and Iraq.

To advance to the second round, Gilas must finish among the top three teams in Group A; however, they will likely face strong competition from Australia and New Zealand for these spots.

In the recent FIBA Asia Cup, Iran performed impressively under coach Sotirios Manolopoulos with a 5-1 record and bronze medal, outperforming Gilas which finished with a 2-3 record.

Iran's roster includes veteran Arsalan Kazemi, who averaged double figures in rebounds and points during the Asia Cup, as well as other key players like Sina Vahedi and Matin Aghajanpour.