Gilas Pilipinas embarks on a historic journey, aiming to clinch an Asian Games medal for the first time in a quarter of a century. The Filipino basketball team’s quest commences as they face off against Bahrain in the pool play stage. With years of preparation, dedication, and a fervent desire to make their nation proud, Gilas Pilipinas enters the tournament with unwavering determination.

As they step onto the hardwood, they carry the hopes and dreams of an entire nation, eager to showcase their talent, teamwork, and resilience on the international stage. The battle with Bahrain is just the beginning of their challenging yet promising journey towards Asian Games glory.

The quest to end that prolonged dry spell in the 2023 edition of the Asian Games kicks off as the Philippines takes on Bahrain in the pool play at the Hangzhou Olympic Sports Centre Gymnasium in China on Tuesday, September 26.

Leading the charge in this continental showpiece is the naturalized player, Justin Brownlee, who played a pivotal role in the Filipino team’s triumphant return to glory at the Southeast Asian Games in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, in May.

Brownlee receives solid support from a group of FIBA World Cup veterans, including the likes of June Mar Fajardo, Scottie Thompson, and Japeth Aguilar, who bolster the team alongside talents such as Ange Kouame, Chris Newsome, Calvin Oftana, and Marcio Lassiter.