Gilas Pilipinas Boys are heading to their worst finish ever in the FIBA Under-16 Asia Cup after bowing to Bahrain by way of a 79-66 result in the 2025 competitions’ Qualification to Quarter-Finals, Thursday at the MBank Arena in Mongolia.
The Filipino dribblers succumbed to a third-quarter surge by the opposition, which saw their Gulf counterparts unload an 18-3 scoring spree toward a 62-47 lead just before the period ended to take the driver’s seat permanently.
Still, the SEABA champions imposed a threat in the final moments, but fouls proved costly. Free throws by Hassan Abdulkadir and Mohamed Adel Abdulla enabled the Bahrainis to add more to their lead to eventually move on.
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And they left behind a frustrated bunch as this team of Coach LA Tenorio failed to keep the Philippines’ streak of quarterfinal appearances in this tilt alive.
The country has never missed the final eight in all eight previous editions of the biennial meet until now, at a time when the program is under a rebuild of sorts after the new Magnolia mentor was named head coach just a few months ago.
Adding even more disappointment to their campaign is the fact that Gilas Youth kissed its hopes of returning to the FIBA U17 Basketball World Cup after competing in last year’s games when the team was still under Josh Reyes.
Jolo Pascual led the Philippines with 10 points in the loss.
Jhustin Hallare had nine points while Brian Orca and Everaigne Cruz added eight apiece.
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Such a paltry production was in stark contrast to Bahrain’s, which saw a total of four players finish in double figures, led by Abdulla with 22 points.
Abdulkadir notched a double-double of 15 points and 12 rebounds. Hussain Fuad and Ali Husain Mohamed added 15 points each as well, as the quartet delivered with Somto Patrick Onoduenyi out for the match.
Winners of the GBA Qualifiers, the Bahrainis are now headed to their first quarterfinals in 12 years, or since the 2013 competitions in Tehran, Iran.
Bahrain has arranged a showdown with three-time champions China in the next round set for Friday, September 5, still at the MBank Arena in Ulaanbaatar.
The tournament had been a struggle for Tenorio and his wards, bowing to Chinese-Taipei (106-82) and New Zealand (85-54) while barely escaping Indonesia (65-60).
The Philippines will finish in the 9th-12th range in the rankings for the first time in tournament history as well.
The Scores:
Bahrain 79 – Abdulla 22, Abdulkadir 15, Mohamed 15, Ghuloom 15, Habib 7, Madan 3, Farhan 1, Al Haddad 0, Abochi 1, Meshaei 0.
Philippines 66 – Pascual J. 10, Hallare 9, Cruz 8, Orca 8, Lumague 7, Pascual T. 6, Carino 6, Delos Reyes 6, Cabanero 4, Restificar 2, Antolin 0.
Quarterscores: 22-21, 42-37, 62-50, 79-66.
