Gilas Pilipinas Boys swept its way into the 2026 FIBA Under-18 Asia Cup SEABA Qualifiers semifinals after dismantling host Thailand, 98–63, Friday evening at the Chan Ka Pho Gymnasium in Krabi.
The Philippines, which earlier defeated Vietnam, 121–28, on opening day, and followed it up with a 110–50 rout of Singapore, will next face Malaysia—which finished 1–1 in Pool B—in the knockout semifinals on Saturday afternoon.
FEU Diliman big man Prince Cariño once again delivered a strong performance for Gilas.
A day after finishing with 21 points against Singapore, the 6-foot-8 center from Imus, Cavite finished with 18 points on an efficient 8-of-9 shooting.
Holding a 21–15 lead after the first quarter, Gilas broke the game wide open in the second period as Bruce Tubongbanua, Cariño, Andrew Chio, Ethan Aguas, Hans Patagoc, and Pat Pasino combined for a blistering 26-point surge to take a 14-point lead into halftime.
Cariño then took over early in the third quarter, scoring nine straight points to stretch the advantage and put the game out of reach.
Four other Gilas players also finished in double figures: Patagoc had 14 points, three rebounds, and three steals; Joaquin Tovera added 13 points and seven assists; Ethan Aguas chipped in 12 points and six rebounds; while Tubongbanua contributed 11 points.
Phurich Benjaariyakul led Thailand with 15 points, four rebounds, and three assists as they set up a classification clash with Indonesia in the other semifinal bracket.
