Gilas Pilipinas Falls Short Against Chinese Taipei in Asia Cup Opener

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by Raymund Tamayo

Gilas Pilipinas' Justin Brownlee fouls out in the fourth quarter of the game against Chinese Taipei in the FIBA Asia Cup 2025 opener
Gilas Pilipinas' Justin Brownlee (32) fouls out in the fourth quarter of the game against Chinese Taipei in the FIBA Asia Cup 2025 opener. Photo: FIBA.

Gilas Pilipinas stumbled out of the gates in their FIBA Asia Cup 2025 campaign, dropping their opening match to Chinese Taipei, 95-87, at the King Abdullah Sports City in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

The national team struggled to find rhythm early, allowing Chinese Taipei to establish a commanding 17-point lead in the first quarter. The early deficit forced the Filipinos to play catch-up for most of the game, a pattern that ultimately proved too difficult to overcome.

Chinese Taipei’s strong start was backed by efficient execution on both ends of the floor. Their confidence was evident, coming off a recent victory over the same Gilas squad just months prior during the Asia Cup Qualifiers. This result ended a 12-year losing streak to the Philippines.

Despite the early struggles, Gilas showed signs of life in the final quarter. The team mounted a spirited comeback behind improved ball movement and outside shooting. At one point, they trimmed the lead down to just six points. However, their momentum was halted when key fouls disrupted their rotation and composure down the stretch.

Gilas Pilipinas Falls Short Against Chinese Taipei in Asia Cup Opener
Gilas tried to bounce back in the fourth quarter but fell short. Photo: FIBA.

Gilas’ defense had no answer for Chinese Taipei’s offensive leader, Chen Ying-Chun, who spearheaded the charge with a game-high 34 points on 10-of-17 shooting and punished every defensive breakdown. Naturalized center Brandon Gilbeck also provided a steady interior presence, giving his team second-chance opportunities and rim protection that stifled Gilas' late push.

The loss highlights lingering concerns about the team's slow starts and lack of cohesion under pressure. Head coach Tim Cone did not mince words postgame, expressing disappointment in the team’s overall effort and the lack of urgency in the opening half.

"Disappointed in the way we played," said national team coach Tim Cone. "We got behind early in the game and just played on our heels the whole way. It was like we were in panic mode for 40 minutes."

Gilas Pilipinas must now quickly regroup, as the result places them behind Group D co-leaders Chinese Taipei and New Zealand, both holding 1-0 records. With tougher tests ahead, adjustments — particularly in perimeter defense and early-game execution — will be crucial if the national team hopes to advance deep into the tournament.

This marks the second consecutive defeat for Gilas against Chinese Taipei, a sign that the gap in Asian basketball is narrowing and that no game can be taken lightly on the continental stage.

The Scores:

Chinese Taipei (95): Chen Y.C. 34, Gilbeck 16, Lin 14, R. Hinton 14, Gadiaga 5, A. Hinton 4, Tseng 4, Ma 3, Hu 1, Liu 0, Gao 0, Chen K.C. 0.

Gilas Pilipinas (87): Brownlee 19, Quiambao 17, Thompson 16, Ramos 16, Edu 8, Oftana 6, Newsome 3, Fajardo 2, Perez 0, Aguilar 0, Tamayo 0.

Quarterscores: 27-16, 43-34, 73-62, 95-87.