{"id":888084,"date":"2026-09-11T11:44:17","date_gmt":"2026-09-11T11:44:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/888084\/"},"modified":"2026-09-11T11:44:17","modified_gmt":"2026-09-11T11:44:17","slug":"live-gilas-pilipinas-vs-bahrain-asian-games-2026-basketball","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/888084\/","title":{"rendered":"LIVE: Gilas Pilipinas vs Bahrain Asian Games 2026 basketball"},"content":{"rendered":"

Gilas Pilipinas opens its title defense in the Asian Games 2026 5\u00d75 men\u2019s basketball against Bahrain.<\/p>\n

SCHEDULE: Gilas Pilipinas at Asian Games 2026 5\u00d75 men\u2019s basketball<\/p>\n

September 11, Friday<\/p>\n

12nn \u2013 Gilas Pilipinas vs Bahrain<\/p>\n

\"Calvin<\/p>\n

FILE\u2013Calvin Oftana was the lone bright spot for Gilas Pilipinas in its Asian Games 2026 men\u2019s basketball opener vs Bahrain. -FIBA PHOTO<\/p>\n

MANILA, Philippines\u2013Gilas Pilipinas\u2019 defense of the men\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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\u2019s latest absence from the national team.<\/p>\n

But Oftana couldn\u2019t get consistent support from the rest, with Gilas struggling to get a consistent offensive game going while its defense couldn\u2019t contain Sampson, Mustafa Rashed and big-bodied Elijah Thomas.<\/p>\n

LIVE UPDATES: Gilas Pilipinas vs Bahrain \u2013 Asian Games 2026 5\u00d75 men\u2019s basketball<\/p>\n

\"FINAL<\/p>\n

FINAL SCORE: Gilas Pilipinas falls to Bahrain, 89-85, in its first assignment in the Asian Games 2026 men\u2019s basketball tournament.
\nDon Trollano transition 3! Gilas Pilipinas within four, 89-85, 11.2 seconds to go.
\nJustine Baltazar for 2. Gilas Pilipinas still down by seven, 89-82. 47 seconds to go.
\nGilas Pilipinas looking at a nine-point deficit, 89-80 with 1:51 to play
\nAdrian Nocum limps to the bench.
\nAdrian Nocum holding on to his ankle as he goes down after accidentally stepping on the foot of Elijah Thomas.
\nJustine Baltazar scores. Gilas down 87-78, 3:35 to go.
\nAli AlHaddad and Jakkar Sampson with a quick 5-0 run for Bahrain and an 87-73 lead.
\nGilas Pilipinas cuts Bahrain\u2019s lead to 9, 82-73.
\nCalvin Oftana with another 3. He has 31 points for Gilas. Still an 11-point lead for Bahrain, 82-71.
\nCalvin Oftana on fire.\u00a0 Personal 5-0 run for him. Bahrain lead down to 10, 78-68. 8:33 to play.
\nFinal quarter begins!
\nEND OF THE THIRD QUARTER: Gilas Pilipinas 61, Bahrain 76.
\nAhmed Al Derazi buzzer beating 3 to end the third quarter for Bahrain.
\nOftana goes 2-of-3 from the stripe. Gilas Pilipinas down 73-61.
\nElijah Thomas called for a foul and a technical after that incident with Calvin Oftana.
\nElijah Thomas finds a way underneath vs Justin Arana and gets the basket plus the foul. He dances to celebrate. 73-59 lead for Bahrain.
\nElijah Thomas makes both freethrows. Bahrain pushes its lead to 71-57, 1:29 third quarter.
\nAdrian Nocum also splits. Then he finishes on the fast break. Gilas Pilipinas down by 12, 69-57. 1:46 third quarter.
\nCalvin Oftana with a split from the freethrow. Gilas Pilipinas 54, Bahrain 69.
\nCalvin Oftana with another much-needed 3. Gilas still down, 64-51. 4:19 third quarter.
\nWhopping 21-5 run for Bahrain since late in the second quarter. Gilas Pilipinas now down by 14 points, 62-48.
\nCalvin Oftana with a much-needed 3. Gilas still trailing, 57-48.
\nAnother 3 from Jakkar Sampson. He\u2019s got the hot hand. Bahrain with its biggest lead, 57-45. 8:03, third quarter.
\nAdrian Nocum scores underneath. Gilas Pilipinas trails, 54-45.
\nJakkar Sampson with a 3 to open the third quarter for Bahrain. 52-43 lead once again.
\nThird quarter underway.
\nAt the half, Calvin Oftana leads Gilas Pilipinas with 14 points. Justine Baltazar has 6, Brandon Rosser and Adrian Nocum have 5 each.
\nEND OF SECOND QUARTER: Gilas Pilipinas 43, Bahrain 49.
\nJakkar Sampson for 3. Bahrain ends the quarter on a 8-0 run.
\nAnother 3 from Bahrain, courtesy of Uros Ilic for a 46-43 lead.
\nCalvin Oftana scores. Justin Baltazar finishes on the fast break. Gilas takes the lead for the first time! 43-41, 1:38 second quarter.
\nElijah Thomas gives Bahrain the lead back, 41-39.
\nDon Trollano for 3! And he ties the game at 39 all. 2:36, second quarter.
\nRJ Abarrientos drives for 2. Gilas Pilipinas 36, Bahrain 39.
\nRashed Mustafa with a transition 3 from the right corner. Bahrain\u2019s lead back to 5, 39-34.
\nRJ Abarrientos goes 2-for-2 from the freethrow line. Gilas Pilipinas 34, Bahrain 35. 4:44 2nd quarter
\nJakkar Sampson inside. Bahrain back to a 3-point lead, 35-32.
\nJustin Arana 2 freethrows. Gilas down by 1, 33-32.
\nJustin Arana baseline shortstab. Gilas Pilipinas down by just 3! 33-30, 6:05 second quarter.
\nAdrian Nocum goes 2-for-2 from the strip. Gilas down by five, 33-28.
\nCalvin Oftana scores again. Gilas Pilipinas 26, Bahrain 33.
\nBut Jakkar Sampson answers quickly.
\nCalvin Oftana 3 points! He has 10 now. Gilas down 31-24.
\nSecond quarter underway. Quick 2 points for Bahrain to push the lead to 10, 31-21.
\nEND OF FIRST QUARTER: Bahrain 29, Gilas Pilipinas 21.
\nBGR\u00a0 scores inside. But Mustafa Rashed answers with 3 on the other end. 11.9 seconds left in the first quarter.
\nCalvin Oftana for 3! Gilas Pilipinas still trailing 22-17, 1:40 first quarter.
\nBahrain answers with a 5-0 run for a 22-14 lead.
\nBrandon Ganuelas-Rosser with a and-one play trims Bahrain lead to 17-14.
\nElijah Thomas and-one gives Bahrain a 17-11 lead with 3 minutes in the first quarter.
\nZavier Lucero putback. Gilas Pilipinas still behind, 13-9.
\nMustafa Rashed quickly answers with a 3. 11-5 lead for Bahrain.
\nAdrian Nocum transition 3! Gilas down 8-5.
\nSeveral attempts from outside for Gilas, but still no makes.
\nJustine Baltazar scores the first 2 for Gilas. Philippines down 8-2. 7:20 in the first quarter.
\nMustafa Rashed with a third straight basket for Bahrain. 8-0 now lead.
\nAhmed Haji for 3. JaKarr Sampson scores on a jumper. 6-0 start for Bahrain.
\nEarly 3 attempt from Robert Bolick, but no go.
\nJaKarr Sampson gets the first point of the game for Bahrain from the freethrow line.<\/p>\n

Gilas Pilipinas is the first team competing for Team Philippines in Japan.
\nGilas Pilipinas starting 5 vs Bahrain: Adrian Nocum, Don Trollano, Robert Bolick, Justine Baltazar and Zavier Lucero.
\nPlayers are now being introduced ahead of the national anthems.
\nRefresh this page for updates.<\/p>\n

\"Gilas<\/p>\n

Gilas Pilipinas men\u2019s team for the Asian Games 2026 basketball 5\u00d75. \u2013SBP PHOTO<\/p>\n

Coach Tim Cone kept it short when asked about Gilas Pilipinas\u2019 first opponent in the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe have researched them the best we can and prepared,\u201d Cone said on the eve (noon Manila time) of Friday\u2019s matchup with Bahrain that will kick off Team Philippines\u2019 campaign in the continental showcase and open the Filipinos\u2019 title-retention bid.<\/p>\n

Normally, Gilas would be favored to run roughshod over the Bahraini side that is not among the powerhouse teams in the Asian region.<\/p>\n

But Gilas\u2019 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\u2019s capability of retaining the gold, or at least qualifying for the quarterfinals.<\/p>\n

Cone, however, feels his players are up to the task, amid Gilas\u2019 worrisome situation.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe guys feel ready,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\"Dwight<\/p>\n

FILE\u2013Gilas Pilipinas\u2019 Dwight Ramos during the pregame introductions against Australia in the Fiba World Cup Asian Qualifiers in Perth.\u2013FIBA PHOTO<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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\u2019s basketball gold in the Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan, is fit for the task.<\/p>\n

Edu, who played sparingly in the Gunma Crane Thunders\u2019 98-81 domination of Ramos\u2019 Levanga Hokkaido, said he saw firsthand how much heart the Japan-bound squad has.<\/p>\n

\u201cFilipinos always show heart, definitely. I\u2019m sure they\u2019ll show heart and represent us well for the Asian Games,\u201d he said, after dropping three points, seven rebounds and four assists in the Gunma win.<\/p>\n


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