GILAS Pilipinas Youth advanced to the quarterfinals of the FIBA U18 Asia Cup 2026 with a 72-63 win over Syria on Thursday in Ahmedabad, India.
Gilas U18 progressed to the final eight where it will go up against China, the top-seeded team in Group C with a 3-0 win-loss record.
The Philippines finally had its shots falling late in the third quarter where a 9-0 blast capped by a three by JB Cagurungan put them up, 51-44.
Cagurungan also began an 8-0 blast in the fourth quarter by burying a three to stretch the Filipinos' lead to 59-49.
Gilas Youth gets going
Cagurungan finished with 12 points on 4-of-8 shooting from threes to help Gilas Youth take the hard-earned win.
George Green led the Philippines in scoring with 18 points on 8-of-13 shooting.
Both squads struggled to find their offensive rhythm early on, with the Filipinos protecting a slim 32-31 lead at the break even though they trailed for a majority of the first half.
Syria looked poised to take control with a 44-42 lead until Gilas Youth went on that key run to end the third quarter.
That was more than enough for the Philippines to survive the 18-point, 13-rebound, two-block effort of Majak Awutiak Majak for the Syrians.
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