Australia concluded their first round campaign in the FIBA World Cup 2027 Asian Qualifiers with a lopsided 92-49 victory over an undermanned Philippine squad at the RAC Arena in Perth.
The Boomers leaned on a second half blitz, limiting Gilas Pilipinas to a meagre 14 points en route to a dominant win that preserved their perfect 6-0 record in Group A of the qualifying window.
Australia set the tone early
The hosts set the tone early on by taking a commanding 33-16 advantage at the end of the first quarter.
The Filipinos fought back, particularly on the defensive end, to cut the deficit to 41-27 at the break following a 12-4 run at the start of the second quarter.
Second half woes for the Filipinos
However, the tide completely turned against the Filipinos in the second half as miscues continued to pile up, with the team committing 19 turnovers across the final two quarters.
The lead ballooned to 63-27 in favour of the Australians behind an 11-4 run that dictated the third quarter.
The Boomers maintained their momentum in the final period as their three point shots continued to fall, allowing them to rout the Philippine side.
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Cotton leads the Boomers
Six-time National Basketball League MVP Bryce Cotton led the winning effort for Australia with 21 points, 13 of which came in the first half. Cleveland Cavaliers guard Tyrese Proctor followed with 16 points.
Meanwhile, no Filipino player finished in double figures, with Dwight Ramos leading the team with nine points, followed by June Mar Fajardo and Kevin Quiambao with eight points apiece.
The team’s star player, Justin Brownlee, did not feature due to multiple injuries.
Despite the defeat, the Philippines still qualified for the second round as the third placed team in Group A with a 2-4 record.
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