Gilas Pilipinas loses to Korea in tune-up ahead of Asian Games

FILE –Gilas Pilipinas guard Robert Bolick. 

MANILA, Philippines–Gilas Pilipinas was handed an 81-56 defeat by host South Korea on Friday in the first of two tune-up games between the two teams in the Hana Invitational held at KT Sonicboom Arena in Suwon.

The Asian Games-bound squad started the game allowing South Korea to score the first nine points and was left to play catch-up the rest of the way as Gilas got its exhibition series off on the wrong foot.

READ: Gilas Pilipinas at Asian Games 2026: What you need to know

South Korea managed to extend its lead from 24-18 after the first quarter to double-digits for most of the way as it was able to take advantage of Gilas’ struggles on both ends.

But the contest also allowed Gilas to tinker with the 11-man roster, with coach Tim Cone letting his assistants do the chores, given that they were the ones in charge of the Asian Games prep while he was busy with the Fiba World Cup Asian Qualifiers.

Gilas will take on South Korea anew on Sunday at the same venue, before heading to Japan for the Asian Games.

The game was not televised back home, but netizens managed to find ways to watch via third-party streaming.

Robert Bolick, Zavier Lucero, RJ Abarrientos, Brandon Bates and Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser started for Gilas in the tune-up.

Adrian Nocum, Justine Baltazar, Jerrick Ahanmisi and Justin Arana were later given some significant playing time, even when the game was already out of reach, even as Don Trollano and Sedrick Barefield played mostly in the first and fourth quarters.