Gilas Pilipinas opens its title defense in the Asian Games 2026 5×5 men’s basketball against Bahrain.
SCHEDULE: Gilas Pilipinas at Asian Games 2026 5×5 men’s basketball
September 11, Friday
12nn – Gilas Pilipinas vs Bahrain
FILE–Calvin Oftana was the lone bright spot for Gilas Pilipinas in its Asian Games 2026 men’s basketball opener vs Bahrain. -FIBA PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines–Gilas Pilipinas’ defense of the men’s 5-on-5 basketball gold in the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games 2026 got off to a rocky start on Friday with an 89-85 loss to Bahrain.
A rough stretch between the second and third quarters spelled doom for Gilas as it went down in defeat against a Bahraini side that had four naturalized players at Aichi International Arena.
Of those four, former Jakarr Simpson gave Gilas a world of trouble with his 24 points plus eight assists as Bahrain won its Group C encounter.
Calvin Oftana fired a game-high 31 points as he served as the lone bright spot for Gilas despite being a last-minute inclusion following Justin Brownlee’s latest absence from the national team.
But Oftana couldn’t get consistent support from the rest, with Gilas struggling to get a consistent offensive game going while its defense couldn’t contain Sampson, Mustafa Rashed and big-bodied Elijah Thomas.
LIVE UPDATES: Gilas Pilipinas vs Bahrain – Asian Games 2026 5×5 men’s basketball
FINAL SCORE: Gilas Pilipinas falls to Bahrain, 89-85, in its first assignment in the Asian Games 2026 men’s basketball tournament.
Don Trollano transition 3! Gilas Pilipinas within four, 89-85, 11.2 seconds to go.
Justine Baltazar for 2. Gilas Pilipinas still down by seven, 89-82. 47 seconds to go.
Gilas Pilipinas looking at a nine-point deficit, 89-80 with 1:51 to play
Adrian Nocum limps to the bench.
Adrian Nocum holding on to his ankle as he goes down after accidentally stepping on the foot of Elijah Thomas.
Justine Baltazar scores. Gilas down 87-78, 3:35 to go.
Ali AlHaddad and Jakkar Sampson with a quick 5-0 run for Bahrain and an 87-73 lead.
Gilas Pilipinas cuts Bahrain’s lead to 9, 82-73.
Calvin Oftana with another 3. He has 31 points for Gilas. Still an 11-point lead for Bahrain, 82-71.
Calvin Oftana on fire. Personal 5-0 run for him. Bahrain lead down to 10, 78-68. 8:33 to play.
Final quarter begins!
END OF THE THIRD QUARTER: Gilas Pilipinas 61, Bahrain 76.
Ahmed Al Derazi buzzer beating 3 to end the third quarter for Bahrain.
Oftana goes 2-of-3 from the stripe. Gilas Pilipinas down 73-61.
Elijah Thomas called for a foul and a technical after that incident with Calvin Oftana.
Elijah Thomas finds a way underneath vs Justin Arana and gets the basket plus the foul. He dances to celebrate. 73-59 lead for Bahrain.
Elijah Thomas makes both freethrows. Bahrain pushes its lead to 71-57, 1:29 third quarter.
Adrian Nocum also splits. Then he finishes on the fast break. Gilas Pilipinas down by 12, 69-57. 1:46 third quarter.
Calvin Oftana with a split from the freethrow. Gilas Pilipinas 54, Bahrain 69.
Calvin Oftana with another much-needed 3. Gilas still down, 64-51. 4:19 third quarter.
Whopping 21-5 run for Bahrain since late in the second quarter. Gilas Pilipinas now down by 14 points, 62-48.
Calvin Oftana with a much-needed 3. Gilas still trailing, 57-48.
Another 3 from Jakkar Sampson. He’s got the hot hand. Bahrain with its biggest lead, 57-45. 8:03, third quarter.
Adrian Nocum scores underneath. Gilas Pilipinas trails, 54-45.
Jakkar Sampson with a 3 to open the third quarter for Bahrain. 52-43 lead once again.
Third quarter underway.
At the half, Calvin Oftana leads Gilas Pilipinas with 14 points. Justine Baltazar has 6, Brandon Rosser and Adrian Nocum have 5 each.
END OF SECOND QUARTER: Gilas Pilipinas 43, Bahrain 49.
Jakkar Sampson for 3. Bahrain ends the quarter on a 8-0 run.
Another 3 from Bahrain, courtesy of Uros Ilic for a 46-43 lead.
Calvin Oftana scores. Justin Baltazar finishes on the fast break. Gilas takes the lead for the first time! 43-41, 1:38 second quarter.
Elijah Thomas gives Bahrain the lead back, 41-39.
Don Trollano for 3! And he ties the game at 39 all. 2:36, second quarter.
RJ Abarrientos drives for 2. Gilas Pilipinas 36, Bahrain 39.
Rashed Mustafa with a transition 3 from the right corner. Bahrain’s lead back to 5, 39-34.
RJ Abarrientos goes 2-for-2 from the freethrow line. Gilas Pilipinas 34, Bahrain 35. 4:44 2nd quarter
Jakkar Sampson inside. Bahrain back to a 3-point lead, 35-32.
Justin Arana 2 freethrows. Gilas down by 1, 33-32.
Justin Arana baseline shortstab. Gilas Pilipinas down by just 3! 33-30, 6:05 second quarter.
Adrian Nocum goes 2-for-2 from the strip. Gilas down by five, 33-28.
Calvin Oftana scores again. Gilas Pilipinas 26, Bahrain 33.
But Jakkar Sampson answers quickly.
Calvin Oftana 3 points! He has 10 now. Gilas down 31-24.
Second quarter underway. Quick 2 points for Bahrain to push the lead to 10, 31-21.
END OF FIRST QUARTER: Bahrain 29, Gilas Pilipinas 21.
BGR scores inside. But Mustafa Rashed answers with 3 on the other end. 11.9 seconds left in the first quarter.
Calvin Oftana for 3! Gilas Pilipinas still trailing 22-17, 1:40 first quarter.
Bahrain answers with a 5-0 run for a 22-14 lead.
Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser with a and-one play trims Bahrain lead to 17-14.
Elijah Thomas and-one gives Bahrain a 17-11 lead with 3 minutes in the first quarter.
Zavier Lucero putback. Gilas Pilipinas still behind, 13-9.
Mustafa Rashed quickly answers with a 3. 11-5 lead for Bahrain.
Adrian Nocum transition 3! Gilas down 8-5.
Several attempts from outside for Gilas, but still no makes.
Justine Baltazar scores the first 2 for Gilas. Philippines down 8-2. 7:20 in the first quarter.
Mustafa Rashed with a third straight basket for Bahrain. 8-0 now lead.
Ahmed Haji for 3. JaKarr Sampson scores on a jumper. 6-0 start for Bahrain.
Early 3 attempt from Robert Bolick, but no go.
JaKarr Sampson gets the first point of the game for Bahrain from the freethrow line.
Gilas Pilipinas is the first team competing for Team Philippines in Japan.
Gilas Pilipinas starting 5 vs Bahrain: Adrian Nocum, Don Trollano, Robert Bolick, Justine Baltazar and Zavier Lucero.
Players are now being introduced ahead of the national anthems.
Refresh this page for updates.
Gilas Pilipinas men’s team for the Asian Games 2026 basketball 5×5. –SBP PHOTO
Coach Tim Cone kept it short when asked about Gilas Pilipinas’ first opponent in the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games.
“We have researched them the best we can and prepared,” Cone said on the eve (noon Manila time) of Friday’s matchup with Bahrain that will kick off Team Philippines’ campaign in the continental showcase and open the Filipinos’ title-retention bid.
Normally, Gilas would be favored to run roughshod over the Bahraini side that is not among the powerhouse teams in the Asian region.
But Gilas’ awful performance in losing two straight friendly matches against the South Koreans in an exhibition series in Suwon over the weekend, coupled with Bahrain tapping four naturalized players, has raised concerns over the team’s capability of retaining the gold, or at least qualifying for the quarterfinals.
Cone, however, feels his players are up to the task, amid Gilas’ worrisome situation.
“The guys feel ready,” he said.
FILE–Gilas Pilipinas’ Dwight Ramos during the pregame introductions against Australia in the Fiba World Cup Asian Qualifiers in Perth.–FIBA PHOTO
AJ Edu and Dwight Ramos battled from opposite sides on Wednesday night during the preseason feature of the Japan B.League at Mall of Asia Arena.
Forty basketball minutes later, the long-time Gilas Pilipinas teammates were back on the same page. They believe the national squad out to defend the country’s basketball gold in the Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan, is fit for the task.
Edu, who played sparingly in the Gunma Crane Thunders’ 98-81 domination of Ramos’ Levanga Hokkaido, said he saw firsthand how much heart the Japan-bound squad has.
“Filipinos always show heart, definitely. I’m sure they’ll show heart and represent us well for the Asian Games,” he said, after dropping three points, seven rebounds and four assists in the Gunma win.
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