JEDDAH (Saudi Arabia) – Australia underlined their status as the team to beat in the FIBA Asia Cup 2025, dismantling the Philippines 84-60 in Wednesday’s Quarter-Finals at King Abdullah Sports City to remain unbeaten and move into the last four.
The defending champions wasted no time asserting control, hitting seven triples in the opening quarter alone to build a commanding 29-12 lead. Jaylin Galloway set the early tone with three makes from deep, while Jack McVeigh and Will Magnay chipped in with key plays at both ends.
Owen Foxwell led the Boomers with 17 points, adding 4 rebounds, 3 assists and 3 three-pointers. Will Magnay provided all-around support with 10 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal and 1 blocked shot, while Galloway and McVeigh gave steady production on the perimeter. Harry Wessels inside presence also yielded timely baskets and second-chance opportunities.
For the Philippines, Kevin Quiambao fought valiantly with a team-high 17 points, 4 rebounds and 5 triples. Dwight Ramos added 15 points and 7 boards. Justin Brownlee was held to 10 points on 3-of-7 field goal shooting.
Australia’s first-quarter shooting clinic put Gilas Pilipinas immediately on the back foot, forcing them to play catch-up. Galloway’s early threes, coupled with McVeigh’s timely long bombs, gave the Boomers a double-digit cushion that only grew as Magnay and Xavier Cooks asserted themselves inside.
"We tried to do some things, but it didn't work for us. We tried to turn it into an execution type of game rather than up-and-down, but they just overwhelmed that idea," Philippines coach Tim Cone admitted. "They started off really well and jumped on a lead, and we played on our heels the rest of the game."
The Philippines briefly found life in the second quarter behind Quiambao’s hot hand and Ramos’ midrange game, cutting into the deficit. But Wessels and Cooks answered in the paint, restoring a 20-point margin at halftime, 48-28.
Any hopes of a comeback were quickly extinguished in the third period. Foxwell buried back-to-back triples before Galloway struck again from deep, pushing the lead back past 20. Brownlee, Ramos and Scottie Thompson tried to spark the Philippines, but Australia’s defensive rotations and rebounding edge kept them at bay.
The Boomers maintained their grip in the final frame. Magnay’s inside score set the tone, McVeigh hit back-to-back turnaround jumpers, and Foxwell orchestrated the offense with poise. Joshua Bannan’s putback in the closing minutes essentially sealed a wire-to-wire win.
"I'm just really proud of how we rebounded and defended. We just rallied on the defensive end and on the boards. I'm very happy," said Australia coach Adam Caporn. "We had a very good start. Our grit and poise kept it."
Australia, now 4-0 in the tournament, extend their unbeaten streak in FIBA Asia Cup play since joining in 2017 and book a Semi-Finals spot on Saturday. They remain firmly on course for a third straight continental crown.
For the Philippines, the loss ends a spirited campaign at 2-3. After their dramatic overtime escape against hosts Saudi Arabia in the Qualification to Quarter-Finals, they found the Boomers’ size, depth and shooting too much to handle.
The Boomers now await their next opponents, with the focus squarely on keeping their record flawless and their championship defense alive.
FIBA