Gilas Youth faces Bahrain in KO match for quarterfinals berth – BusinessWorld Online
GILAS Pilipinas Youth clashes against Bahrain in a knockout (KO) set-to Thursday for a seat in the quarterfinals of the 2025 FIBA U16 Asia Cup at the Buyant Ukhaa Sport Complex in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.
Game time is at 11:30 a.m. (Manila time) with the Nationals mentored by LA Tenorio looking to heat up when it matters most from subpar campaign in the first round and set up a QF tussle against unbeaten and reigning bronze medalist China, which topped Group A.
Ranked No. 35, Gilas bled for a 1-2 card for the No. 3 seed in Group B but proved enough to advance in the qualification against the lower-tiered but vastly-improved Bahrain, No. 94, after its 2-1 campaign for second place in Group A.
Gilas’ lone win came against No. 89 Indonesia, 65-60, as it folded to No. 51 Chinese Taipei, 106-82, and No. 15 New Zealand, 85-54.
Despite a harder route though, Gilas has the experience to still get the job done after going through the same process in the 2023 edition marked by a Final Four finish.
Gilas then stunned South Korea and Japan in back-to-back knockout games to place just behind Australia, New Zealand and China for a seat in the 2024 FIBA U17 World Cup hosted by Turkey.
Turkey once again will host the 2026 world joust featuring four teams from Asia.
To do it, Mr. Tenorio will have leaders Gab delos Reyes, Jhustin Hallare, Mark Jhello Lumagub, Ethan Tan-Chi, Prince Cariño and Jeremiah Antolin to bank on. — John Bryan Ulanday
