Chinese Taipei stuns Gilas Pilipinas with 91-84 upset in FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers

Chinese Taipei delivered a stunning 91-84 victory over Gilas Pilipinas at the Taipei Heping Basketball Gymnasium, ending the Philippines’ perfect run in the FIBA Asia Cup 2025 Qualifiers.

The third-window clash in Group B marked Chinese Taipei’s first win over the Filipinos since 2013, snapping a 12-year drought and shaking up the standings as both teams prepare for the main tournament in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, in August 2025. Despite Gilas already securing their Asia Cup berth with a 4-0 record prior to the game, the loss dropped them to 4-1, while Chinese Taipei improved to 2-3, boosting their confidence and seeding prospects.

The game was a tale of two halves. Chinese Taipei came out firing, leveraging their retooled roster and a raucous home crowd to build a commanding lead. By the end of the third quarter, they were up 71-61, fueled by a barrage of three-pointers and a suffocating defense that disrupted Gilas’ rhythm.

Lin Ting-Chien and Mohamad Gadiaga led the charge with 21 points each, showcasing the Taiwanese squad’s newfound depth. Gadiaga, a high-scoring guard from Japan’s B.League, and 7-foot naturalized center Brandon Gilbeck—both absent in their 106-53 blowout loss to Gilas in February 2024—proved game-changers. Gilbeck dominated the paint with 11 points, 8 rebounds, and a towering presence that clogged the lane, while Lu Chun-Hsiang’s clutch scoring, including a dagger in the fourth, sealed the deal.

Gilas, missing their 7-foot-3 center Kai Sotto due to an ACL injury, struggled to match Chinese Taipei’s physicality. Justin Brownlee, the Philippines’ naturalized star, erupted for 39 points, sinking 8-of-11 from beyond the arc, alongside 8 assists and 6 rebounds. His late-game heroics—including a trey with 3:50 left that briefly put Gilas ahead 80-79—kept hope alive, but it wasn’t enough.

AJ Edu, back from injury, added a two-handed jam to spark a rally, but the team’s early deficit proved too steep. June Mar Fajardo chipped in 11 points, and Dwight Ramos showed flashes of brilliance, but the Filipinos couldn’t overcome Taipei’s relentless pace and sharpshooting.

The upset flipped the script on their Group B history. Gilas had dominated Chinese Taipei in their first-window meeting, but this time, Coach Tim Cone’s squad faced a hungrier, more prepared opponent. The Taiwanese exploited Gilas’ lack of size without Sotto, pounding the interior while raining threes—outscoring the Philippines 47-45 by halftime and never relinquishing control.

For Gilas, the loss highlighted vulnerabilities heading into their final qualifier against New Zealand on February 23, where they’ll aim to reclaim momentum.