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

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

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