Things looked grim for the Filipino pair as they fell 3-0 behind against Belgium’s Mike De Decker and Dimitri Van den Bergh.
But then came the comeback - four straight legs, all four doubles hit by Nebrida, and suddenly the unthinkable happened: Belgium were out, and the Philippines were through.
“We didn’t expect this. We’re just really happy to win,” said a beaming Ilagan, who also helped the team to a 4-2 win over Latvia in their opening match.
“It’s not easy to play against two of the best players in the PDC, but we just tried to play our own game and we trusted each other."
It wasn’t just the Philippines making waves for Asia - Malaysia and Hong Kong also booked their spots in the last 16 in what turned out to be a huge day for the region.
Malaysia’s Tengku Shah and Tan Jenn Ming made history with a commanding 4-1 win over Denmark in a must-win Group F matchup. Meanwhile, Hong Kong’s Man Lok Leung and Lok-Yin Lee were clinical, whitewashing Bahrain after dominating the USA 4-1 on Thursday night.
Over in Group A, four-time champs Netherlands kept things clinical. Danny Noppert and Gian van Veen didn’t drop a single leg across their group matches, cruising past Hungary to stay on track for a fifth title.
Australia’s Damon Heta and Simon Whitlock were in red-hot form, taking down Spain and then ousting Austria, twice runners-up, in their Group H finale. Heta even averaged 114 in the win over Spain, which says it all.
Germany, playing in their own backyard, made smooth progress too. Martin Schindler and Ricardo Pietreczko swept aside Singapore in four straight legs to top Group C.
Paul Lim - partnered by newcomer Phuay Wei Tan - rolled back the years at the age of 71 as Singapore denied Portugal, before losing out to the home favourites in a straight Group C shoot-out.
One of the bigger upsets of the day came in Group D as China shocked Ireland with a 4-2 win. But thanks to legs won against the throw, William O’Connor and Keane Barry scraped through to the last 16. All three teams in the group - China, Ireland, and Gibraltar - ended tied on points and leg difference, but Gibraltar just edged it to top the group.
Poland, the ninth seeds, also bowed out early. South Africa’s Cameron Carolissen and Devon Petersen saw off Norway 4-1 and then watched as Norway stunned Poland, sending the South Africans through from Group E.
Debutants Argentina made a splash of their own, edging past New Zealand in a final-leg thriller to earn a spot in the second round.
Sweden managed to squeak through Group G despite a narrow 4-3 loss to France. Thibault Tricole and Jacques Labre had a real shot to send France through, but missed chances in their earlier match against Lithuania came back to haunt them.
Switzerland also had a dramatic path through. After a 4-3 loss to Croatia, Stefan Bellmont and Alex Fehlmann bounced back with a 4-1 win over Japan, topping Group K on leg difference.
Czechia secured top honours in Group J with back-to-back 4-2 wins over Chinese Taipei and India, advancing to the knockouts for the second straight year.
The draw for the last 16 was made following the completion of Friday evening's action, and reigning champions England - led by Luke Humphries and debutant Luke Littler - will open their defence of the title with a blockbuster tussle against hosts Germany.
Two-time champions Scotland will play the Netherlands in another crunch clash, while Wales begin their bid for a third World Cup crown against the Philippines.
Fourth seeds Northern Ireland go up against South Africa for a place in the last eight, with 2022 champions Australia pitted against Argentina.
Former finalists Ireland meet Switzerland, Hong Kong play Sweden, and Malaysia and Czechia also collide.
Following Saturday's second round, the quarter-finals, semi-finals and final will then take place during a bumper double session on Sunday as the remaining eight nations compete for the coveted title at the Eissporthalle.