Gilas Pilipinas’ Asian Games title defense ended in disaster on Monday, September 14. China blew past the Philippines, 105-61, in a brutal Group C rout at the Aichi International Arena in Japan.

The defending champions needed a win, or a loss by fewer than 37 points, to keep their quarterfinal hopes alive. Instead, Gilas fell by a crushing 44 points, eliminating them on the spot.

Gilas Pilipinas Collapses Under China’s Onslaught

China seized control early, turning a slim 16-11 lead into a commanding 36-16 advantage by the end of the first quarter. The Filipinos never found an answer, trailing by 36 points at halftime, 66-30.

Gilas shot just 32 percent from the field, connecting on only 23 of 71 attempts, while going 7-of-30 from three-point range. China also dominated the boards, outrebounding the Philippines 55-36, and finished with a 24-18 edge in assists.

China’s Balanced Attack Overwhelms Gilas Pilipinas

China forward Junjie Wang led all scorers with a double-double, posting 20 points, 14 rebounds and three assists in the win. Sanning Liao added 14 points and four rebounds, while Mingxuan Hu chipped in 13 points off the bench.

Seven different players scored in double figures for China, a testament to their offensive depth. Calvin Oftana was the lone bright spot for Gilas Pilipinas, scoring a team-high 13 points, while Sedrick Barefield added nine points and four assists.

The result marked one of the program’s worst showings at the Asian Games, with Gilas failing to advance out of the group stage. Jordan and Saudi Arabia advanced instead, finishing with better point differentials of -5 and -11, respectively.

Three years ago in Hangzhou, Gilas Pilipinas rallied past China, 77-76, behind Justin Brownlee before going on to defeat Jordan for its first Asian Games gold in 61 years.

Cong Bambol Reacts, Flags Naturalized Player Gap

“It was a good thing we got the gold medal in Hangzhou though we have to wait for five years to regain the gold medal,” said Philippine Olympic Committee president Abraham “Cong Bambol” Tolentino.

“The question is: why do the other countries have so many naturalized players? Why can’t we?” Tolentino added, pointing to a gap that has widened across the region.

The next Asian Games will break from its usual four-year rhythm. The Olympic Council of Asia has voted to shift the event to odd-numbered years, pushing the 21st edition in Doha, Qatar to 2031 instead of 2030.

The OCA wants the Asian Games to fall exactly one year before the Summer Olympics, letting it double as a direct qualification and preparation tournament for elite athletes heading into the Games.

Spreading out major sporting events is also meant to protect athlete performance, audience sizes, and sponsor value, reducing the crowding that comes with too many marquee tournaments in the same year.