Gilas draws China, Bahrain, Kazakhstan in Asian Games

Gilas Pilipinas Men will begin its Asian Games basketball title defense on Sept. 11 after being drawn into Group C with China, Bahrain and Kazakhstan.

The Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games Organizing Committee announced the men’s and women’s tournament groups Friday.

The Philippine men’s team will face Bahrain in its opening game before meeting Kazakhstan on Sept. 12 and regional rival China on Sept. 14.

Gilas enters the tournament as the defending champion after winning the men’s basketball gold medal at the 2022 Asian Games in Hangzhou, China.

That championship ended the Philippines’ 61-year wait for an Asian Games men’s basketball gold medal.

Gilas Women, meanwhile, was drawn into a group with Japan, Kazakhstan and Hong Kong.

The Philippine women’s team will open its campaign against Kazakhstan on Sept. 17.

Gilas Women will then face Hong Kong on Sept. 20 before closing the group stage against Japan on Sept. 22.

The women’s team will seek to improve on its fifth-place finish at the 2022 Asian Games.