Gilas Survives Jordan in 82-81 Thriller Despite Tamayo Injury
Gilas clung on for dear life. The crowd roared, the final buzzer sounded, and an 82-81 thriller over Jordan went into the books as a statement win to open the second round of the 2027 FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers.
Yet the celebration carried a limp.
A win with a price
Midway through the third quarter, with Gilas starting to find its rhythm, Carl Tamayo landed on the foot of a Jordanian defender at the 7:58 mark. One awkward step. One sharp grimace. The 6-foot-8 forward crumpled to the floor, clutching his ankle.
He eventually got up and walked straight to the Gilas bench, jaw tight, eyes set. He never came back.
Up to that point, Tamayo had been carving out a strong night of his own. Eight points, timely buckets, and a buzzer-beating three to close the first half that sent the bench into a frenzy. His stretch shooting had helped pry open Jordan’s defense, giving CJ Perez, Kevin Quiambao, and Kai Sotto the room they needed to go to work.
When he disappeared from the rotation, the game tightened. Gilas had to grind. Perez attacked, Quiambao made big plays, Sotto held his nerve. Their late-game heroics dragged the Philippines over the line by a single point, but the lingering image was still Tamayo limping away.
Cone weighs options ahead of Iran
After the game, head coach Tim Cone cut straight to the point.
“Right now, he can walk. But beyond that, it’s swollen. It’s a sprained ankle,” Cone said in the post-game press conference. “We’ll give him the treatment tonight, and tomorrow and we’ll see how he is at that point.”
The diagnosis brought a measure of relief—no mention of anything worse than a sprain—but also a cloud of uncertainty with Iran looming on Sunday. Gilas needs Tamayo’s size and shooting, yet Cone knows he may have to adjust on the fly.
If the 25-year-old can’t suit up against Team Melli, the coaching staff already has a contingency plan. Cone pointed to the two names still waiting in the wings: Justin Arana and RJ Abarrientos, the final cuts from the official lineup but still very much in the frame.
“In the meantime, we still have RJ and Justin on the list,” Cone said. “Those two guys could fill in for Carl, if necessary. Hopefully, it won’t be necessary.”
That “hopefully” now hangs over Gilas’ camp. The team escaped Jordan with a dramatic victory, powered by a flurry of clutch plays and a loud reminder of its resilience. The next test comes quickly, and the question is simple:
Will Carl Tamayo be there to meet it?
