Gilas Pilipinas Boys will have several new faces when they compete in the 2026 FIBA Under-18 Asian Championship, which runs from August 13 to 23 in Ahmedabad, India.
Among the new additions are 6-foot-7 Filipino-American Elias Gish of Far Eastern University, 6-foot-5 Filipino-Canadian Aidan Dayco-Green, 6-foot-7 Ateneo big man Jacob Lacson, 5-foot-11 Filipino-Australian Luke Atacador, and 6-foot-2 University of Perpetual Help guard Sizco Roquid.
The five players replace Ziv Espinas, Kyle Sardon, Hans Patagoc, Louis Razon, and SEABA qualifiers MVP Joaquin Tovera from the team that competed in the continental tournament.
Tovera is with De La Salle University in Saga, Japan, for the 2026 University Top League.
Returning from the SEABA squad are Prince Carino, Ethan Aguas, JB Cagurungan, Andrew Chio, Chog Moral, Pat Pasinos, and Bruce Tubongbanua.
The Philippines is in Group A alongside powerhouse Australia, Chinese Taipei, and Thailand.
The top team in each group will advance directly to the quarterfinals, while the second- and third-placed teams will have to go through the play-in round for a spot in the last eight.
The top four finishers in the tournament will earn berths in the 2027 FIBA Under-19 World Cup, which will be held in Pardubice, Czech Republic.
In the previous edition of the tournament, the Philippines, then coached by Josh Reyes, finished 10th with a 1-3 record.
