Gilas Boys Roll Past Vietnam by 93, Start SEABA Qualifiers in Style

Gilas Pilipinas Boys kicked off their 2026 FIBA U18 Asia Cup SEABA Qualifiers campaign with a statement win, overwhelming Vietnam, 121-28, on Wednesday at Chankapoh Gymnasium.

The young Filipinos came out firing, racing to a 39-11 advantage after the opening quarter behind a well-balanced attack that saw 11 players score. Ethan Aguas led the early charge with 19 points.

The Philippines continued to dominate in the second period, unleashing a 29-4 run to build a massive 68-15 lead at halftime.

Gilas Youth tightened the screws even further in the third quarter, shutting out Vietnam while pouring in 25 points of their own to extend the margin to 93-15 heading into the final period.

Aguas paced the Filipinos with 19 points on an efficient 8-of-12 shooting clip in less than 15 minutes of action, leading a balanced offense that featured seven double-digit scorers.

Fil-American guard Joaquin Tovera chipped in 16 points and four steals, while Hans Patagoc turned in an all-around effort with 14 points, six assists, and five rebounds for the squad coached by Juno Sauler.

Andrew Chio added 12 points, five assists, and four rebounds, while Pat Pasinos, Prince Cariño, and Louis Razon each finished with 11 markers in the one-sided contest.

Defensively, Chog Moral made his presence felt across the board, tallying five points, 10 assists, seven steals, and five rebounds as he helped dictate the tempo throughout the game.

Vietnam drew its best production from Tuan Hung Pham, who recorded 10 points and seven rebounds.

Coming off the dominant victory, Gilas Pilipinas Boys will aim to keep their momentum going when they take on Singapore on Thursday at 4:30 p.m. before facing host Thailand at 7 p.m. on Independence Day to conclude their Group A schedule.

The top two teams from each group will advance to the crossover semifinals, with the two finalists earning berths in the 2026 FIBA U18 Asia Cup set for August in India.