OQT learnings: Gilas weapon in Nagoya

MANILA, Philippines — Armed with valuable lessons from the pre-Olympic Qualifiers, Gilas Pilipinas Women switches its attention and energy to the next big battle – the Asian Games in Japan.

“We’re going to Japan and we want to move forward,” said coach BT Toews, referring to the coming Asiad set in Nagoya where Gilas Women will continue its hunt for a breakthrough medal in the quadrennial Games.

“That’s another chance for us to learn. It’s another chance for us to compete, but we want to win, more than anything else.”

At the 2026 Asian Games, the Philippine cagebelles will be up first against Kazakhstan (Sept. 17), Hong Kong (Sept. 20) and the host Japanese (Sept. 22) in Group B action, seeking to finish in the Top 2 to advance to the quarterfinals.

In the previous edition in Hangzhou, the Nationals, then under long-time mentor Pat Aquino, made it to the Last-8 but got the boot from South Korea (71-93), which went on to win bronze behind champion China and runnerup Japan.

Meanwhile, Gilas Pilipinas Youth was relegated to the battle for seventh place in the FIBA U18 Asia Cup after bowing to Japan, 75-80, yesterday in Ahmedabad, India.

The Gilas boys trailed by as many as 14 in the classification match and mounted a searing rally late that the Japanese extinguished with clutch free throw shooting.

Chog Moral rifled in 21 points in an explosive followup to his 26-point outing in their 103-117 loss to China in the quarterfinals the day before.