GILAS PILIPINAS gets a quick chance to erase the sting of its 26-point loss to South Korea when the two teams collide again Sunday in the Hana Bank Invitational 2026 in Suwon, South Korea.
The Filipinos return to the floor at 1 p.m. Philippine time on September 6, looking to turn the lessons of Friday’s 81-55 setback into a far more competitive performance.
South Korea controlled the opening encounter from the start, taking a 24-18 lead after one quarter before stretching the advantage to 45-33 at halftime. Gilas struggled to find its rhythm after the break, producing only 22 points in the second half as the Koreans pulled away.
Lee Jung-hyun proved particularly difficult to contain, torching Gilas for 27 points, including seven three-pointers, while also handing out five assists.
Justine Baltazar was the bright spot for the Philippines, finishing with 15 points, 10 rebounds and three steals, but his effort was not enough to offset Korea’s superior shooting and fluid offensive execution.
The rematch gives Gilas little time to lick its wounds—and even less room to repeat the same mistakes.
The Philippine defense must find an answer to Korea’s perimeter game, especially its ability to create open looks through quick ball movement. On the offensive end, Gilas needs better shot selection, sharper passing and a more consistent scoring attack after being held to just 55 points.
Sunday’s game is also bigger than revenge.
With the 2026 Asian Games looming, every international game is another test of Gilas’ readiness. The rematch against South Korea provides the Philippine side with an immediate opportunity to test adjustments against the same opponent and see whether it can respond under pressure.
There is no time for Gilas to dwell on Friday’s defeat.
The challenge now is simple: learn fast, adjust faster, and fight back.
A stronger performance Sunday would not erase the first-game loss, but it could show that Gilas Pilipinas is capable of turning a bad night into a valuable lesson—and coming back with a much better answer.
Gilas is the defending basketball champion in the Asiad.
