Oftana shines but Gilas Pilipinas falls short vs Bahrain to open Asian Games title defense

VETERAN. Calvin Oftana in action for Gilas Pilipinas in the 2025 FIBA Asia Cup.

FIBA

Last-minute inclusion Calvin Oftana sees arguably his finest game in a national team uniform go down the drain as Gilas Pilipinas falls into a double-digit hole and comes up short of its late comeback

MANILA, Philippines – Gilas Pilipinas’ title defense hit an early roadblock.

The Philippines dropped its opening assignment in the Asian Games men’s basketball competition, absorbing an 89-85 loss to Bahrain at the Aichi International Arena in Nagoya, Japan, on Friday, September 11.

Last-minute inclusion Calvin Oftana shouldered the offensive load with 31 points on a 6-of-9 clip from three-point distance, but arguably his finest game in a national team uniform went down the drain as the Filipinos fell into a double-digit hole and came up short of their late comeback.

Shaking off a slow start, the Philippines seized the lead for the first and only time at 43-41 on a Justine Baltazar bucket, before Bahrain — reinforced by multiple naturalized players — unleashed a 23-5 run bridging the third and fourth quarters to build its biggest lead of the game at 64-48.

Bahrain finished the second period on an 8-0 burst, capped by back-to-back triples from JaKarr Sampson and Uros Ilic, for a 49-43 halftime lead and never trailed the rest of the way, holding off every Gilas Pilipinas fightback. 

Sampson, a former NBA veteran who suited up for the Philadelphia 76ers, Denver Nuggets, Sacramento Kings, Chicago Bulls, and Indiana Pacers, dominated in the win with 24 points, 13 rebounds, and 8 assists, while fellow naturalized player Elijah Thomas supplied 20 points, 4 rebounds, and 3 assists.

Mustafa Rashed also delivered 20 points in the victory, knocking down 4 triples as Bahrain torched the Philippines with 12 three-pointers on an efficient 43% shooting. 

Adrian Nocum backstopped Oftana with 14 points, 7 rebounds, and 5 assists before exiting the game with under two minutes left due to an apparent ankle injury.

Nocum converted on a layup to cut the Philippines’ deficit to 80-89 but tweaked his right ankle after landing on Thomas’ foot. 

A Baltazar bucket and a Don Trollano trey pulled the Filipinos within 85-89, although Bahrain held on as time expired. 

Baltazar tallied 10 points and 6 rebounds, Trollano finished with 9 points and 8 rebounds, Justin Arana chimed in 8 points and 4 rebounds, while Zavier Lucero added 4 points, 9 rebounds, and 5 assists.

Top PBA guards Robert Bolick and Sedrick Barefield fired blanks and both wound up scoreless as they both shot 0 of 5 from the field.

Gilas Pilipinas faces a quick turnaround as it tangles with Kazakhstan in a battle of winless teams on Saturday, September 12.

Kazakhstan earlier absorbed a 99-61 beating from China, which shares the top spot in Group C with Bahrain. 

Only the top two teams from each of the three groups and the two best third-place squads will advance to the quarterfinals. – Rappler.com