By el Amigo
MANILA — Calvin Oftana was thrown into the fire as a late replacement for injured Justin Brownlee, and the 29-year-old forward responded with a career-defining performance for Gilas Pilipinas.
Oftana poured in 31 points, but the Philippines still fell short against Bahrain, 89-85, in its opening Group C game at the 2026 Asian Games on Friday in Nagoya, Japan.
With Brownlee unavailable, Gilas needed someone to provide an offensive spark, and Oftana delivered almost immediately.
He became the focal point of the Philippine attack as Bahrain built its advantage, repeatedly keeping the Nationals within striking distance.
The Philippines eventually found its rhythm late in the game, but Bahrain had already established enough of a cushion to survive the comeback.
Sampson was instrumental in Bahrain’s victory, scoring 24 points and dishing out eight assists. Elijah Thomas added to the Philippines’ problems with his presence inside.
A strong third quarter allowed Bahrain to take control and put Gilas in a difficult position entering the final period.
Oftana refused to let the game slip away without a fight, but the Philippine rally fell short.
The loss leaves Gilas with an 0-1 record in Group C and little room for error in the preliminary round.
The Nationals get another chance to recover on Saturday, Sept. 12, when they take on Kazakhstan. They close their Group C campaign against China on Sept. 14.
After a disappointing start, Gilas will need to regroup quickly, with advancement to the quarterfinals now dependent on its remaining results.
ia/xf
