Gilas Pilipinas bounces back to set up key showdown vs rival China

The Philippines’ bench celebrates after a win against Kazakhstan. —SAMAHANG BASKETBOL NG PILIPINAS via Asian Games 2026

SCHEDULE: Gilas Pilipinas men at Asian Games 2026 5×5 basketball

The Philippines will face a huge obstacle in its bid to keep its title defense alive in the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games—a Great Wall, in fact.

Gilas Pilipinas kept its hopes afloat with a 109-78 victory over Kazakhstan on Saturday, but whether or not the Filipinos get to keep fighting for their crown will depend on the outcome against a familiar—and smarting—continental rival.

Robert Bolick delivered for Gilas, scoring 13 of his 20 points in the first half, when the Filipinos pulled away and bounced back after a shock 69-65 defeat to Bahrain in their opening tiff.

And the Gilas captain had every reason to feel good about himself after a sluggish showing during the two blowout losses against South Korea in Suwon prior to the Games and after failing to make an impact against Bahrain.

Bolick was a game-time decision after playing through a knee injury in the Bahrain matchup. Coach Tim Cone had said that Bolick got hurt during warmups.

Revenge in mind

Up next for the Philippines is China, which the country shamed in the last Asian Games in Hangzhou. China led by 20 on its home floor in the semifinal duel between the two Asian rivals, before Justin Brownlee sparked a comeback that resulted in a stunning Gilas win.

A win by the Philippines will assure the team a spot in the quarterfinals. A loss to China, which is aching for payback, could still leave a side door open for the Filipinos, who need to be the best third-placers to qualify.

The Philippines and Iran from Group B are currently at 1-1 while Saudi Arabia is at 0-2 in Group A.

Gilas, however, cannot afford a huge loss to China, which beat Bahrain, 105-59 earlier in the day. Bahrain takes on Kazakhstan on Monday.

Bolick wasn’t the only player who stepped up for the Philippines.

Jerrick Ahanmisi dropped three consecutive triples during a key stretch in the fourth that helped Gilas stretch its lead after Kazakhstan kept knocking on the door in the second half.

Ahanmisi added a fourth before the buzzer, ending as the game’s top scorer with 22 points.

Coach Tim Cone curiously handed the reins of the team to his assistant, Richard del Rosario, who had been one of those in charge of the Asian Games team while Cone was busy with the Fiba World Cup Asian Qualifiers.

And allowing Del Rosario to call the shots seemed to have worked well for Gilas. INQ