Gilas Pilipinas includes Justine Baltazar in FIBA Window 2 pool

By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña

Converge FiberXers frontcourt star Justine Baltazar became the newest addition to the Gilas Pilipinas Men’s National Basketball Team’s player pool for the upcoming Window 2 of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 Asian Qualifiers.

Baltazar’s inclusion in the national team was confirmed on Feb. 16, 2026, when he was spotted during Gilas’ first day of practice at the Upper Deck Sports Center in Pasig.

The 6-foot-9 versatile big man’s presence came after Kai Sotto and Quentin Millora-Brown, two of the national team staples, would not be playing due to unknown reasons.

According to Gilas head coach Tim Cone, Sotto’s health is still a concern, but Millora-Brown’s absence has yet to be determined.

Baltazar will be making his highly anticipated return to Gilas, five years after rendering his services from 2021 to 2022.

The savvy two-way center played under the tutelage of former Gilas mentor Tab Baldwin and was a part of the squad that took down the mighty South Korean team twice during the 2021 FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers.

In the first matchup, Baltazar delivered six points and seven rebounds, providing a much-needed interior threat that countered South Korea’s frontcourt rotation.

The second win against South Korea was sweeter, as Baltazar threw down a dunk in the final 30 seconds to help Gilas seal the 79-75 victory.

However, Baltazar’s fate is still up in the air, as the coaching staff will still assess the final 12 members of the national team that will go up against New Zealand and Australia.

Currently, Gilas is still undefeated after sweeping all of their Window 1 games against Guam on Nov. 28, 2025, and Dec. 1, 2025.