Gilas Youth hold off Indonesia for first victory in U16 Asia Cup

Gilas Pilipinas Boys found their footing in the FIBA Under-16 Asia Cup, grinding out a 65-60 win over Indonesia on Monday evening at the Buyant Ukhaa Sports Complex.

The victory gave the youth Nationals their first win of the tournament after a tough 106-82 loss to Chinese Taipei in their opener. More importantly, it kept them in the hunt for a quarterfinal berth in Group C play.

Unlike their blowout loss to the Taiwanese, Gilas kept the game close and weathered every Indonesian rally. The Philippines clung to a slim advantage for most of the second half, with key stops and clutch baskets in the last three minutes proving decisive.

Andwele Cabanero, Prince Carino, and Jolo Pascual provided the late-game spark that allowed Gilas to fend off a determined Indonesian side led by Miracle Christiano and Muhamad Firdaus.

Tan-Chi led the balanced effort with 12 points, five rebounds, and a block. Pascual backed him up with 11 points and five assists, while Cabanero contributed 10 points on efficient 4-of-7 shooting alongside five boards and four steals.

Jhello Lumague chipped in nine points and five rebounds, and Carino delivered six points, six boards, three blocks, and a steal in the clutch. Brian Orca struggled from the field with only four points on 1-of-6 shooting but imposed his presence with 13 rebounds and four assists.

Indonesia refused to fold, keeping within striking distance until the final buzzer. Christiano tallied a double-double of 13 points and 10 rebounds to go with two steals, while Firdaus also poured in 13 points. Steven Sebastian added seven points, 11 rebounds, three steals, and a block in a gritty effort.

Prince Cariño comes up clutch for Gilas Pilipinas Youth as it puts itself in a favorable position to advance to the knockout rounds of the FIBA U16 Asia Cup following a close win over Indonesia https://t.co/ORomeo1TnB

— Rappler Sports (@RapplerSports) September 1, 2025

Despite their hustle, Indonesia could not complete the upset, falling short in the dying minutes as the Filipinos executed better down the stretch.

The result set up a pivotal clash between the Philippines and New Zealand on Tuesday at 4:30 p.m. in the same venue. The stakes are high: a win over the Junior Tall Blacks is crucial for Gilas to strengthen its bid for the top spot in the group.

However, their fate will not rest on their performance alone. For the Filipinos to secure the No. 1 seed outright, they need Indonesia to pull off an upset against Chinese Taipei.

Otherwise, a three-way tie is possible — with point differentials deciding which team advances with the best position.

On the other hand, a loss to New Zealand combined with an Indonesian victory could eliminate the Philippines early, a scenario that would mark the first time the national youth program exits the tournament at the group stage.

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