Hindi maganda ang pagbubukas ng kampanya ng defending champion Gilas Pilipinas sa 2026 Asian Games sa Aichi-Nagoya, Japan nitong Biyernes ng tanghali.
Natalo ang Philippine team kontra Bahrain, 89-85, sa Aichi International Arena.
Susunod na kalaban ng Gilas ang Kazakhstan bukas, 6 p.m., at China sa Lunes, 12 noon.
Ang mga myembro ng koponan ay sina Calvin Oftana, Robert Bolick, Adrian Nocum, Don Trollano, Jerrick Ahanmisi, Sedrick Barefield, RJ Abarrientos, Zavier Lucero, Justin Baltazar, Justin Arana, Brandon Bates at Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser.
Si Oftana ang ipinalit sa pwesto ng naturalized player na si Justin Brownlee na may mga injury sa hamstring at tuhod.
Samantala, target ng Team Philippines na makakuha ng hindi bababa sa walong gintong medalya sa Asiad na opisyal na magbubukas sa Setyembre 19.
Sina Paris Olympics bronze medalist na boksingero na si Aira Villegas at batang weightlifter na si Ian Delos Santos ang mga flag-bearer.
Kumpiyansa ang Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) at Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) na kayang doblehin ng delegasyon ang apat na gintong medalya na inuwi sa 2018 Jakarta-Palembang at 2022 Hangzhou Games.
“We’re all dreaming anyway, so let’s dream big and make it eight. Why eight? Break it down: four from Palembang and four from Hangzhou. Of those eight, let’s have a minimum of four from combat sports and four from non-combat sports,” ani POC president Abraham Tolentino sa sendoff ceremony nitong Huwebes sa Rizal Memorial Coliseum sa Maynila.
Naniniwala si Tolentino na malaki ang tsansa ng jiu-jitsu, boxing, taekwondo, wushu at mixed martial arts na makapag-uwi ng gintong medalya sa combat sports.
Kabilang din sa mga inaasahang maghahatid ng gintong medalya para sa bansa ang gymnastics, na pangungunahan ng two-time Olympic gold medalist na si Carlos Yulo at ng kanyang kapatid na si Eldrew, tennis star na si Alex Eala, athletics, esports at skateboarding.
“I’m not putting pressure on you. We’re not putting pressure on you. Just give everything you have,” sabi ni Tolentino.
“Another thing we’re talking about is the Asian Games. We want to bid for the Asian Games. The Philippines hosted the first Asian Games in Manila in 1954, and we haven’t hosted it again since. The only available slot is 2039. By 2039, all of you will probably be retired or no longer competing. It will be the young athletes that the PSC and POC are developing today who will be playing”
Inanunsyo rin ni PSC Chairman Patrick Gregorio ang karagdagang Php6,000 allowance para sa bawat atleta at coach na sasabak sa Asian Games at Asian Para Games.
Iminungkahi rin ang cash bonus sa buong delegasyon kung malalagpasan ng Team Philippines ang dating apat na gintong medalya sa Asian Games at 10 gintong medalya sa Asian Para Games.
“lI’ll personally appeal to the PSC commissioners for an additional reward for the entire delegation,” ani Gregorio.
“I know we can do it. Everyone we’re sending to the Asian Games has a chance to win gold. Everyone has a chance to win a medal because these are already elite athletes. We’re more than capable of doing this.”