Daven Tamayo

Gilas bows to South Korea in first tuneup game ahead of Asiad

Article (news)

Paige Javier

ABS-CBN News

MANILA &ndash; Gilas Pilipinas suffered a blowout loss to South Korea, 81-55, on Friday evening at the Suwon KT Sonicboom Arena.The match was the first of two tune-up games for the 11-man Gilas squad in the run-up to the 20th Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan this month.&nbsp;South Korea took control in the first half of the game, leading by as much as 26 points.&nbsp;<div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/basketball/2026/9/2/nocum-bolick-to-take-flight-as-gilas-heads-to-korea-to-continue-asiad-build-up-1654">RELATED: Nocum, Bolick to take flight as Gilas heads to Korea to continue Asiad build-up </a></div>Despite only fielding 10 players, South Korea proved to be too much for Gilas, shooting 67 percent from the field.Lee Jung-hyun led the way for the host team with 27 points, shooting 7-of-11 from beyond the arc.<div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/basketball/2026/9/2/gilas-goes-uptempo-in-asiad-title-defense-says-cone-1929">RELATED: Gilas goes uptempo in Asiad title defense, says Cone </a></div>Justine Baltazar was one of the bright spots for Gilas, scoring 15 markers, grabbing 10 rebounds, and three steals.Gilas newcomer Adrian Nocum added 10 points, four boards and one steal, as the squad takes on South Korea again on Sunday in the same venue before heading to Japan.The Nationals will face Bahrain to kick off their Asian Games campaign on September 11.

Gilas Pilipinas suffered a blowout loss to South Korea, 81-55, on Friday evening at the Suwon KT Sonicboom Arena.

Gilas Pilipinas suffered a blowout loss to South Korea, 81-55, on Friday evening at the Suwon KT Sonicboom Arena.