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Gilas faces ‘naturalized’-fueled Bahrain to start Asian Games defense

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Gilas Pilipinas men's team for the Asian Games 2026 basketball 5x5.

Gilas Pilipinas men’s team for the Asian Games 2026 basketball 5×5. –SBP PHOTO

Coach Tim Cone kept it short when asked about Gilas Pilipinas’ first opponent in the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games.

“We have researched them the best we can and prepared,” Cone said on the eve (noon Manila time) of Friday’s matchup with Bahrain that will kick off Team Philippines’ campaign in the continental showcase and open the Filipinos’ title-retention bid.

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Normally, Gilas would be favored to run roughshod over the Bahraini side that is not among the powerhouse teams in the Asian region.

But Gilas’ awful performance in losing two straight friendly matches against the South Koreans in an exhibition series in Suwon over the weekend, coupled with Bahrain tapping four naturalized players, has raised concerns over the team’s capability of retaining the gold, or at least qualifying for the quarterfinals.

Cone, however, feels his players are up to the task, amid Gilas’ worrisome situation.

“The guys feel ready,” he said.

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The Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas formally announced the 12 players who will look to contend despite not having most of Cone’s usual players in Fiba competitions—including naturalized player Justin Brownlee.

Justin Brownlee(with ball) will be a notable Gilas Pilipinas absentee. Justin Brownlee(with ball) will be a notable Gilas Pilipinas absentee.

Justin Brownlee (with ball) will be a notable Gilas Pilipinas absentee. —FIBA PHOTOS

Expected to lead the squad are Robert Bolick, Adrian Nocum, Justine Baltazar, Zavier Lucero and Sedrick Barefield, who were on and off during the two South Korea matches.

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Don Trollano, Justin Arana, RJ Abarrientos, Brandon Bates, Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser and Jerrick Ahanmisi comprise the rest, while Calvin Oftana came in less than two days ago and completed the squad as a late addition.

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Gilas will face head-on a Bahrain side that has maximized the passport-only rule by tapping JaKarr Sampson, Uros Ilic, Elijah Thomas and Austin Ajukwa.

Sampson stands 7 feet and played in the NBA for the Philadelphia 76ers, Chicago Bulls, Denver Nuggets, Sacramento Kings and Indiana Pacers; Ilic is listed at 6-foot-10 and Thomas is at 6-foot-11.

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They, along with the 6-foot-6 Ajukwa, are expected to pose plenty of problems for the undersized Gilas team, which has Baltazar as its tallest player at 6-foot-9.

Gilas will need to secure a top-two finish or become one of the two best third-placers to advance from Group C to the knockout stages.

The Philippines is joined in the group by Kazakhstan and powerhouse China, which is expected to have an axe to grind after Gilas completed a Brownlee-led comeback in the semifinals at the Hangzhou Asiad three years ago.



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Team Philippines went on to snap a 61-year drought as king of basketball in the region when it outlasted Jordan in the gold medal game.

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Dustin Rhodes announces heartbreaking injury to rising star; replaces her with AEW name

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AEW veteran Dustin Rhodes announced a change for an upcoming wrestling event organized by him after a talent scheduled to compete in it suffered an injury. The latter, Brooke Havok, will be substituted by All Elite Wrestling and Ring of Honor performer Robyn Renegade.

Brooke Havok began her pro-wrestling journey in 2020, getting her early training from Cody Rhodes and QT Marshall in the Nightmare Factory. She has been competing extensively on the independent circuit over the past six years, and has made appearances on All Elite Wrestling programming a few times as well. The California-born star has also wrestled in Ring of Honor, AEW’s sister-promotion, on a number of occasions since 2023.

Brooke was last seen in action at a Power Pro Lucha event last Friday, where she and her Team Lodestone partners Amira and Janai Kai were defeated by GummiBurger in a trios bout. Havok was evidently scheduled to compete this coming Sunday at 80s Fever 2026, a show hosted by Dustin Rhodes‘ organization Rhodes Wrestling Association. The Natural’s latest X/Twitter update has revealed, however, that the 27-year-old is now unfortunately out of the event due to injury, and that ROH star Robyn Renegade will be taking her place.

“Announcement: @BrookeHavok is out this Sunday after an injury. @RhodesWrestling wishes her a speedy recovery. Taking her place will be none other than @RobynRen18 from #ROH,” posted Dustin.

Announcement: @BrookeHavok is out this Sunday after an injury. @RhodesWrestling wishes her a speedy recovery. Taking her place will be none other than @RobynRen18 from #ROH

Dustin Rhodes has been missing from AEW due to injury

Dustin Rhodes has been away from in-ring action since he lost his TNT Championship to the Don Callis Family’s Kyle Fletcher on the July 31, 2025 episode of AEW Collision. After facing a brutal post-match ambush at the hands of The Protostar following their vicious Chicago Street Fight, the Artist Formerly Known as Goldust went under the knife for double knee replacement surgeries in August.

Dustin has been on the mend since then, although a report from this past March claimed that the veteran had returned backstage to resume his duties as a producer for Dynamite and Collision. Later in June, he confirmed that he had not yet been medically cleared, albeit emphasizing that he is “very close” to making his comeback.

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It remains to be seen when Rhodes will return to All Elite Wrestling programming.