Gilas Pilipinas Boys delivered a statement performance in their debut at the 2026 FIBA U18 Asia Cup SEABA Qualifiers, overwhelming Vietnam, 121-28, for a 93-point victory on Wednesday at Chankapoh Gymnasium in Krabi, Thailand.
Ethan Aguas led a balanced Philippine attack that saw seven players score in double figures, finishing with 19 points on 8-of-12 shooting in just 14 minutes and 44 seconds of action.
Fil-American guard Joaquin Tovera contributed 16 points and four steals. Hans Patagoc stuffed the stat sheet with 14 points, six assists, and five rebounds for the squad coached by Juno Sauler.
The Philippines wasted no time asserting its dominance, racing to a 39-11 lead at the end of the first quarter behind a scoring effort that saw 11 different players get on the board, led by Aguas’ seven points.
Gilas Youth continued to pour it on in the second period, outscoring Vietnam 29-4 to build a commanding 68-15 advantage at halftime.
The young Filipinos then turned in their most dominant defensive stretch of the game in the third quarter. They held Vietnam scoreless while scoring 25 points of their own to extend the lead to 93-15 entering the final frame.
Andrew Chio added 12 points, five assists, and four rebounds. Meanwhile, Pat Pasinos, Prince Cariño, and Louis Razon chipped in 11 points apiece.
Chog Moral also made his presence felt despite scoring just five points, tallying 10 assists, seven steals, and five rebounds.
Tuan Hung Pham paced Vietnam with 10 points and seven rebounds.
The Philippines will next face Singapore on Thursday at 4:30 PM, before taking on host Thailand on Independence Day at 7:00 PM to conclude its Group A campaign.
The top two teams from Groups A and B will advance to the crossover semifinals, with the two finalists earning berths in the 2026 FIBA U18 Asia Cup, set to be held in India this August.
Laos, Malaysia, and Indonesia comprise Group B.
