BUOYED by its win against New Zealand last Thursday, Gilas Pilipinas guns for another victory to secure a spot in the FIBA Asia Cup when it faces Hong Kong in its final game for the second window of the qualifiers on Sunday night at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.

The Filipinos are fresh off a 93-89 triumph over the Tall Blacks and will enter the 7:30 p.m. game against Hong Kong with an impeccable 3-0 record in the group.

Hong Kong, which suffered a 94-64 beating from the Philippines in the first window last February, is winless in three starts.

Gilas Pilipinas head coach Tim Cone lauded his players for their sacrifices in the second window.

"I'll be honest, they are not making big money doing this. They come here basically, it's a small little portion of the salaries they make in their home teams, with what they are making here," Cone said, noting players like Kai Sotto, Dwight Ramos, AJ Edu and Carl Tamayo, who are playing in either the Japan B.League or Korean Basketball League.

"They are coming in here with their hearts more than their pockets,"

As of press time, Cone has yet to reveal the final 12 that will play against Hong Kong.

But then again, the PBA's all-time winningest coach has the option of giving young players like Carl Tamayo, Kevin Quiambao and Mason Amos the opportunity to see action and get the playing time as they get more in tune with the system.

Even naturalized big man Ange Kouame, who was included in the 15-man pool for this window, can possibly be inserted to take the spot of Brownlee.

Brownlee, who just a few weeks back was coming off grueling PBA Philippine Cup finals series with Barangay Ginebra, erupted for 26 points and 11 rebounds in the win against New Zealand, as he joined hands with big man Kai Sotto in leading the national squad's charged-up third-quarter offensive en route to the pulsating home victory.

The Philippines can officially seal a spot in the FIBA Asia Cup set this August in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, with a victory on Sunday.