Asian Games: QF-bound Gilas Women fall to mighty Japan in final group stage match

Gilas Pilipinas Women closed out the group stage with an 89-67 blowout loss to host Japan on Tuesday, but are still heading into quarterfinals of the 2026 Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan.

The Filipinas fell behind early as the world No. 9 Japanese side fired on all cylinders throughout the game. Despite the 22-point defeat, Gilas Women still advanced to the playoffs, where they will look to improve on their quarterfinal exit in the previous edition in China.

Naturalized import Elizabeth Means and the veteran duo of Afril Bernardino and Janine Pontejos were the bright spots in the loss with the 6-foot-1 Filipino-American center scattering 16 points alongside nine rebounds and two assists.

Bernardino chipped in 13 markers, three boards, and three dimes while Pontejos posted 11 points.

Ami Tsuneta emerged as one of the leaders for Japan, dropping 18 points, including 12 in the first half that allowed the host country to seize a huge 52-32 halftime lead over the Filipinas.

Miyu Okamoto, meanwhile, punished the Philippines with five three-pointers to finish with 19 points and five rebounds as Japan once again got the better of Gilas, replicating its 96-59 rout of the Filipinas three years ago in Hangzhou, China.

—Bea Micaller/JMB, GMA News