PBA Plots Invitational Tourney as Gilas Pilipinas Prepares for Crucial Battles

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by Raymund Tamayo

Gilas Pilipinas head coach Tim Cone.
Gilas Pilipinas head coach Tim Cone. Photo: FIBA.

The PBA is shaking things up once again, this time to make sure Gilas Pilipinas has every chance to shine on the international stage. 

With the third window of the FIBA World Cup 2027 Asian Qualifiers and the defense of the Asian Games gold medal both coming up, the league is adjusting its calendar to prioritize national duty.

Here’s the plan: once the Commissioner’s Cup wraps up, all Gilas pool players, and of course, head coach Tim Cone, will be pulled from their mother clubs so they can focus solely on the national team. No distractions, no divided commitments, just Gilas locked in.

The schedule is stacked. On July 3, the Philippines takes on New Zealand, followed by a showdown with powerhouse Australia on July 6, both away games that promise to test Gilas’ mettle. A few months later, from September 19 to October 4, the squad heads to Aichi, Japan, to defend the Asian Games crown they dramatically captured last time around.

Gilas Pilipinas naturalized player Justin Brownlee.
Gilas Pilipinas naturalized player Justin Brownlee. Photo: FIBA.

So what happens to the PBA in the meantime? Commissioner Willie Marcial already has something in the works: an Invitational tournament. All 12 PBA squads will join, and to spice things up, two guest teams from overseas are expected to be part of the mix. Invitations are likely to be sent to Japan’s B.League and Korea’s KBL, both leagues that will be on pause during that window. Clubs from Macau and Hong Kong Eastern are also in the conversation.

Think of it as a PBA version of the PVL’s Invitational Conference, a midseason showcase where fans get fresh matchups and local teams test themselves against international opposition. And just like the volleyball league, there’s even talk of putting prize money on the line to make the competition more intense. (For context, PLDT took home ₱1,000,000 for winning the PVL Invitationals.)

Gilas Pilipinas standouts Dwight Ramos (24), June Mar Fajardo (15), and Jamie Malonzo (13).
Gilas Pilipinas standouts Dwight Ramos (24), June Mar Fajardo (15), and Jamie Malonzo (13). Photo: FIBA.

Marcial hasn’t finalized all the details yet, but one thing’s clear: the PBA is making sure fans stay entertained while Gilas gears up for two of its most important campaigns in recent years.

For basketball fans, it’s a win-win situation. Gilas gets the focus it needs, while the PBA keeps the action going in a fresh, exciting way. Buckle up, because 2026-2027 could be one of the most unique and thrilling stretches in Philippine hoops history.