Gilas Pilipinas pulled off a dramatic 82-81 overtime victory against Jordan to open the second round of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 Asian Qualifiers at the Mall of Asia Arena.

Overcoming an 18-point deficit, the Philippines relied on sheer grit and dominant rebounding to force extra time. Late in overtime, Kevin Quiambao knocked down a go-ahead three-pointer with 13 seconds remaining to put Gilas ahead by one. On Jordan’s final possession, Abdullah Olajuwon drove for a potential game-winning layup, but Kai Sotto swatted the shot away as time expired, sealing the emotional victory and snapping a four-game losing streak for the national team.

Kai Sotto’s game-winning block;

KAI SOTTO IS THE MAN OF THE HOUR! 👑🇵🇭#FIBAWC pic.twitter.com/jgR0QoYZNr

— FIBA Basketball (@FIBA) August 28, 2026

Sotto stood out as the undisputed top performer of the game. Returning to the national lineup, the 7-foot-3 center put up a monster double-double with 18 points, 14 rebounds, 2 assists, and 2 blocks in 36 minutes of action. CJ Perez added crucial scoring depth with 16 points, while Dwight Ramos and Kevin Quiambao contributed 14 points each. Sotto’s dominance inside and final defensive heroics breathed vital life into the country’s World Cup qualification campaign.

Full gamehighlights

Entering the second round with a sub-.500 record, Gilas would have been placed in a severe hole with a loss against Jordan. The win improves their record to 3-4 in Group E, keeping them within striking distance of the top qualifying spots for Qatar 2027. Gilas Pilipinas will face off against Iran on August 30 at the Mall of Asia (MOA) Arena, while Jordan plays Australia at the same venue on the same day.

Source: FIBA