2026 ASIAN GAMES | GILAS PILIPINAS ROSTER TRACKER (AS OF SEPTEMBER 2, 2026)

According to Quinito Henson's X feed, Tim Cone has already decided on the 11 players he will use for the 2026 Nagoya Asian Games.

He is still holding out on his final pick, though, as this spot is reserved for Justin Brownlee, just in case the medical team clears him.

Basically, the squad consists of some of the PBA's toughest players. And yes, Tim Cone took out most of the Gilas mainstays, since the team's main goal is to get the country back to the World Cup. Basically, he's giving the other players a break while also avoiding the risk of injury.

Aside from Justine Baltazar, Justin Arana, and RJ Abarrientos, three players who are part of the 14-man FIBA Asia Qualifiers squad, the team also has 2025 SEA Games gold medalist Robert Bolick, 2023 SEA Games gold medalist Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser, Sedrick Barefield, Zavier Lucero, Jerrick Ahanmisi, Don Trollano, Brandon Bates, and Adrian Nocum.

Now, I know the Asian Games team is basically Gilas Pilipinas' Team B, but this is also a kind of litmus test for potential Team A inclusion.

In the 2022 Asian Games, held in 2023 due to the pandemic, Chris Newsome rose to the occasion, and he has been part of the main squad ever since.

And I guess it's also a way for Abarrientos, Arana, and Baltazar to get into the main-team mix.

For the Converge twin towers, it's a chance for them to get a taste of the main squad. I know it's a hard sell for them to get playing time, especially if the team will also have Quentin Millora-Brown and Mike Phillips, but I doubt Tim Cone will have just four big men on the roster. They can also use Bennie Boatwright as a PF if he gets his naturalization papers.

I also like the idea of the Gilas bigs going in a different direction. Yes, Kai Sotto and AJ Edu are towers, but if they aren't available, then maybe we need a backup plan where speed and quickness are more prominently featured.

And while the Gilas main backcourt is solid, it's not a bad idea to look for an upgrade.

I know that, before his announcement, pundits had been calling June Mar Fajardo slow, but then again, he's also on the wrong side of 30. The same can actually be said about Newsome. I am a fan of his game, but maybe we can still get something more out of that position. Robert Bolick is seen as the best prospect to move up to the main roster, but they can also go with a fearless slasher like Nocum or a Rhoel Gomez-type shooter in Ahanmisi.

Or maybe Tim Cone can go with Trollano. We all know his story. He's an overachiever who started his pro career as a defensive specialist, and now his game has evolved into that of a player with a lethal outside shot.

So there, basically, we have an Asian Games team now.

I don't really know how they'll fare, especially if that 12th spot doesn't go to Brownlee. That said, Gilas surprised everyone in 2023, which is why we might be in for a treat.

WHO ARE IN

GOLD | PART OF THE FIBA GROUP F SQUAD

2026 GOVS CUP STATS	GP	PPG	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG
RJ ABARRIENTOS	6	14.83	2.33	4.50	1.33	0.00
JUSTIN ARANA	9	21.78	8.33	2.56	0.33	0.33
JUSTINE BALTAZAR	9	14.11	8.33	2.22	1.11	0.78
JERRICK AHANMISI	9	10.22	2.78	3.33	1.11	0.00
SEDRICK BAREFIELD	6	19.17	2.83	2.83	1.50	0.17
BRANDON BATES	8	5.25	8.13	0.38	0.50	1.00
ROBERT BOLICK 2025 | SEA GAMES GOLD	9	17.67	5.78	7.56	0.56	0.56
BRANDON GANUELAS-ROSSER 2023 | SEA GAMES GOLD	4	11.75	3.50	1.25	0.25	1.00
ZAVIER LUCERO	7	15.14	7.43	1.29	1.14	1.29
ADRIAN NOCUM	6	17.67	4.00	7.17	1.33	0.67
DON TROLLANO	9	17.11	4.11	1.78	0.56	0.22

WHO BEGGED OFF

2026 GOVS CUP STATS	GP	PPG	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG
JORDAN HEADING	6	16.67	2.67	3.50	1.00	0.17
JASON PERKINS	7	12.71	4.71	1.29	0.14	0.14
CAELAN TIONGSON	6	10.50	4.33	1.50	1.00	0.33

POSSIBLE PICKS

GOLD | PART OF THE FIBA GROUP F SQUAD

GRAY | NATURALIZED PLAYER

2026 GOVS CUP STATS	GP	PPG	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG
JUSTIN BROWNLEE 2023 | ASIAN GAMES GOLD 2023 | SEA GAMES GOLD	0	0	0	0	0	0
JUNE MAR FAJARDO 2023 | ASIAN GAMES GOLD 2021 | SEA GAMES SILVER 2019 | SEA GAMES GOLD	8	8.38	9.75	3.50	0.63	2.13
JUAN GOMEZ DE LIANO	9	12.11	5.89	6.67	0.56	0.11
CHRIS NEWSOME 2023 | ASIAN GAMES GOLD 2023 | SEA GAMES GOLD	8	12.38	3.13	2.88	1.75	0.25
CJAY PEREZ 2023 | ASIAN GAMES GOLD 2023 | SEA GAMES GOLD	5	16.20	2.60	2.40	1.60	0.60
TROY ROSARIO 2021 | SEA GAMES SILVER 2019 | SEA GAMES GOLD 2017 | SEA GAMES GOLD 2015 | SEA GAMES GOLD	6	8.33	5.67	1.67	1.00	0.33
SCOTTIE THOMPSON 2023 | ASIAN GAMES GOLD 2015 | SEA GAMES GOLD	1	4.00	6.00	5.00	1.00	0.00
CALVIN OFTANA 2023 | ASIAN GAMES GOLD 2023 | SEA GAMES GOLD	0	0	0	0	0	0