Reporting note: this article draws on gmanetwork.com; LodiScore provides the summary and editorial framing.
Third-Quarter Fightback Falls Short at Aichi International Arena
Gilas Pilipinas Women saw their medal hopes dashed on Thursday, absorbing an 83-71 defeat against Chinese Taipei in the quarterfinals of the 2026 Asian Games at the Aichi International Arena in Japan.
Playing from behind for most of the contest, the Filipinas orchestrated a spirited second-half comeback to slash a double-digit deficit, but ultimately ran out of steam in the closing minutes against an efficient Chinese Taipei squad.
How Chinese Taipei Maintained Control
Chinese Taipei carried a 42-34 advantage into halftime before threatening to turn the game into a runaway early in the third quarter. Back-to-back three-pointers from Ling-Chuan Huang and Ya-En Han pushed the deficit to 16 points at 50-34, putting Gilas in a deep hole.
True to form, the national team refused to fold quietly. Janine Pontejos drilled a three-pointer to cap an immediate 8-2 response, trimming the gap to 52-42. Pontejos and Kent Pastrana then combined to fuel a blistering 10-0 run, pulling the Philippines within six at 58-52 and reigniting hope on the bench.
However, Chinese Taipei had an answer for every Filipino surge, executing down the stretch to restore order and secure their place in the tournament semifinals.
Top Performers and Lineup Adjustments
Veteran forward Afril Bernardino paced Gilas with a game-high 23 points, seven rebounds, and one assist. Pontejos and Stefanie Berberabe provided secondary scoring, finishing with 12 points apiece.
The Filipinas competed without key frontcourt anchors Jack Animam and Kacey Dela Rosa, leaving the squad with a smaller rotation against a disciplined opponent.
Tournament Takeaways
The quarterfinal exit mirrors Gilas Women's finish in the previous edition of the Asian Games, where their campaign ended at the same stage in a 22-point loss to South Korea. While the 12-point margin against Chinese Taipei marks a tighter quarterfinal contest, the national team heads home looking to build on the resilience shown across their Asian Games run.
