IT was a tough night for Gilas Youth.
The Philippines’ run in the 2026 FIBA U18 Asia Cup came to an end Friday after China pulled away for a 117-103 quarterfinal victory in Ahmedabad, India.
The young Nationals had no shortage of fight, with Chog Moral exploding for 26 points on 10-of-14 shooting. Luke Atacador added 14, while Ethan Aguas and JB Cagurungan chipped in 12 each.
But China was simply too much.
The Chinese squad used its size advantage and relentless offense to break the game open after a competitive start. Zichao Wang scored 25 points, Yuxiu Chen added 23, and China buried 17 triples on the way to the win.
Gilas Youth found itself down 33-20 early and spent much of the game trying to close the gap.
The defeat ends the Philippines’ hopes of reaching the semifinals and earning a place in the 2027 FIBA U19 World Cup.
Still, the campaign isn’t completely over.
The Philippines can still battle for fifth place, giving the young Nationals another opportunity to finish the tournament on a high note. The team had beaten Thailand and Chinese Taipei in the group stage before getting past Syria in the qualification round.
China, meanwhile, marches into the semifinals and has already secured a ticket to the 2027 U19 World Cup.
One chapter ends. Another chance to finish strong remains.| BNN Integrated News
