Calvin Oftana delivered the best performance of his international career — but it wasn’t enough to save Gilas Pilipinas from a stunning 89-85 defeat to Bahrain in their Asian Games Group C opener at Aichi International Arena in Japan on Friday, September 11.

The loss puts an early dent in the Philippines’ bid to defend its Asian Games basketball title, as Bahrain’s hot shooting overcame a Filipino squad that actually dominated the hustle stats on paper.

Oftana Shines, But Bahrain’s Shooting Proves Decisive

Oftana, the former San Beda Red Lion, exploded for 31 points on a scorching 11-of-19 clip from the field, including six triples on nine attempts from beyond the arc. It was a career-defining outing that briefly kept Gilas within striking distance throughout the contest.

Despite Oftana’s heroics, Bahrain simply shot too well to be stopped. The Bahrainis converted 33 of 62 field goal attempts for 53% shooting, while also burying 12 of 28 three-pointers for 43% from deep.

Jakarr Sampson led all scorers for Bahrain with a near triple-double: 24 points, 13 rebounds and eight assists. He got strong support from Mustafa Rashad and Elijah Thomas, who each chipped in 20 points to seal the win.

Adding to Gilas’ frustration, the Philippines actually won several key statistical battles. The Filipinos outrebounded Bahrain by a wide margin, 51-35, and also edged them in total assists, 26-23.

Nocum Injury Adds Concern Ahead of Kazakhstan Clash

Adrian Nocum provided solid secondary scoring for the Filipinos, posting 14 points, five rebounds and five assists in a well-rounded stat line. The Rain or Shine guard, however, was forced to exit the game in the fourth quarter due to an injury.

His status moving forward remains a concern for the Gilas coaching staff as the team prepares for a quick turnaround. No further details on the extent of Nocum’s injury have been disclosed as of this writing.

Justine Baltazar rounded out the notable Filipino performers with 10 points, two rebounds and two assists. Outside of Oftana, Nocum and Baltazar, no other Gilas player reached double digits in scoring.

Gilas Pilipinas will look to regroup quickly, as they face Kazakhstan next on Saturday, September 12, at the same Aichi International Arena. Kazakhstan will also be seeking a bounce-back win after suffering a lopsided 99-61 defeat to China in their tournament opener.