Gilas Pilipinas Youth suffered its first defeat in the 2026 FIBA U18 Asia Cup after falling to defending champion Australia, 107-69, on Saturday.
After a clutch win against Chinese Taipei in their first game, the Emus made sure there wouldn’t be any of that again as they overpowered Batang Gilas.
Gilas Pilipinas Youth Kept the Pace Early
Coming off their thrilling 89-88 escape against Chinese Taipei, the young Filipinos showed early fight against the reigning champions.
Timely baskets from Elias Gish, Aidan Dayco-Green, Chog Moral, JB Cagurungan, and Bruce Tubongbanua helped the Philippines stay within striking distance.
The opening quarter remained tightly contested, with Australia holding a slim 24-19 advantage after the first 10 minutes.
Australia Breaks the Game Open in the Second Period
Batang Gilas briefly threatened to take control early in the second period when Andrew Chio and Sizco Roquid helped cut the deficit to just two, 26-24.
Australia quickly responded, however, with its size and depth becoming too much for the Philippines to handle. Yahya Basaran, John Aryang, and Antonio Browne spearheaded a 16-2 surge that transformed a close contest into a 42-26 Australian advantage.
The Emus continued their offensive assault and entered halftime with a commanding 56-34 lead.
Gilas struggled to regain its footing after the break as Australia continued extending the gap throughout the second half.
The Emus Dominate Inside
The defending champions eventually stretched their advantage to 42 points, taking a 107-65 lead late in the fourth quarter before settling for the 107-69 victory.
Australia’s physical dominance was evident on the glass, where it outrebounded the Philippines, 60-30. The Aussies also held a 54-28 advantage in points in the paint and finished with a 6-1 edge in blocks.
Seven Australian players reached double figures, led by 7-foot center Yahya Basaran with 17 points and eight rebounds. Aryang added 16 points and five steals, while Bailey Hanson contributed 14 points and eight assists. Browne finished with 13 points, five rebounds, and three assists, while Isaac Riddle and Jai Fa’ale scored 12 apiece.
Batang Gilas Looks to Bounce Back Against Thailand
Dayco-Green paced the Philippines with 12 points, while Luke Atacador also contributed 12 points. Gish, Cagurungan, and Chio each finished with nine points.
Ethan Aguas, who delivered the game-winning basket against Chinese Taipei in the opener, was held to just six points.
The loss dropped Gilas Youth to 1-1 in Group A, while Australia improved to 2-0 and strengthened its bid for the group’s outright quarterfinal berth.
The Philippines will close its group-stage campaign against Thailand on Monday at 4 p.m. Manila time.
A victory will be crucial as Gilas looks to secure its place in the next phase and continue its bid for at least a semifinal finish, which would also secure a berth in the 2027 FIBA U19 Basketball World Cup.
