Southeast Asia's number one basketball powerhouse suffers a shock in the opening match of ASIAD 2026

(ASIAD 2026 results) - The defending champion Philippines unexpectedly fell to Bahrain 85-89 in the first men's basketball game, even with a fierce rally in the last period.

Philippines entered Group C of ASIAD 2026 as the top basketball nation in Southeast Asia. However, Gilas Pilipinas suffered an 85-89 defeat to Bahrain at the Aichi International Arena in Japan.

The Southeast Asian representative started slowly and at one point trailed 21-31 in the second quarter. Philippines then improved their ball speed and briefly took a 43-41 lead thanks to a fast break finished cleanly by Justine Baltazar.

Gilas' advantage did not last long. Jakarr Sampson and Uros Ilic hit two consecutive three-pointers, helping Bahrain regain control and go into halftime with a 49-43 lead.

The West Asian team maintained pressure after the break. A 13-0 run gave Bahrain a 54-43 lead, before they won the third quarter 27-18. Entering the final period, Philippines faced a tough situation down by 15 points, 61-76.

With few options left, Gilas pushed the pace and began their chase. Two successful free throws by Zav Lucero cut the deficit to 73-82 with 5 minutes and 47 seconds remaining.

Bahrain kept the distance until the final minutes. A layup by Baltazar brought Gilas closer at 82-89 with 47.2 seconds left. After a defensive stop, Don Trollano nailed a three-pointer, narrowing the gap to 85-89 with just 11.2 seconds on the clock.

Philippines' comeback hopes then ended as they couldn't foul quickly enough. Ahmed Haji was sent to the free-throw line with 3.8 seconds left. Though the Bahraini player missed both attempts, Gilas had no time left to change the outcome.

Calvin Oftana, a late addition to the Philippines roster, became the biggest bright spot with 31 points on 11/19 shooting. Adrian Nocum contributed 14 points, six rebounds, and five assists but twisted his ankle in the final two minutes.

Baltazar had 10 points and six rebounds, while Trollano recorded nine points, eight rebounds, and four assists. In contrast, expected scorer Robert Bolick failed to score any points in 13 minutes of play.

For Bahrain, former NBA player Jakarr Sampson led the way with 24 points, 13 rebounds, and eight assists. Elijah Thomas and Mustafa Rashed each added 20 points, laying the foundation for the West Asian team's first victory.

The loss to Bahrain is a notable stumble for Philippines, the most decorated team in Southeast Asia with 20 SEA Games gold medals and the current ASIAD champion. However, Gilas Pilipinas did not bring their strongest lineup to Japan, using a roster entirely composed of players from the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA). NBA star Jordan Clarkson is absent, while Justin Brownlee was withdrawn from the lineup and replaced by Calvin Oftana at the last minute.

Gilas Pilipinas will seek their first win when they face Kazakhstan at 18:00 on September 12 at Aichi International Arena.