The 2026 FIBA Under-18 Women’s Asia Cup SEABA Qualifiers have quickly turned into a two-team race, and the stage is now set for a winner-take-all showdown.
Gilas Pilipinas Girls continued their commanding run in the regional tournament after dismantling Thailand, 86-48, on Thursday at the STI West Negros University Gym in Bacolod, extending their unbeaten streak to three games and moving within one win of the SEABA crown.
With Indonesia also preserving its spotless record earlier in the day, Saturday’s meeting between the two squads will determine the tournament champion and the region’s representative moving forward.
The Filipinas have barely been challenged throughout the competition. They opened with a 93-42 demolition of Vietnam before dispatching Singapore, 83-53. Against Thailand, Gilas delivered perhaps its most complete performance yet, seizing control from the opening minutes and never allowing the Thais any chance to recover.
Lea Pinuela spearheaded the balanced attack with 16 points on 50-percent shooting while adding five rebounds and two assists. Ruiza Olmos made the most of her limited floor time, scoring 11 points on a perfect shooting night in just 13 minutes.
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#AsiaCupU18 FINAL
86 – 48
𝗚𝗶𝗹𝗮𝘀 𝗨𝟭𝟴 𝗪𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗻 𝗱𝗲𝗳 𝗧𝗵𝗮𝗶𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗨𝟭𝟴, 𝟴𝟲-𝟰𝟴!
Still undefeated!The scores:
Pinuela 16, Olmos 11, Reyes 9, Oñate 9, Dignadice 8, Rosane 7, Peje 6, Perez 6, Katigbak 5, Navarro 4, Duma 3, Singson 2.
Akari Sports pic.twitter.com/L9b4YPVp35
— GILAS BAR ʚଓ (@gilasbar) June 4, 2026
Tiffany Reyes and Zia Onate chipped in nine points each, with Onate also contributing five assists and three rebounds. Sophia Dignadice orchestrated the offense with eight points and eight assists, while Zaydhen Rosano and Rhiane Perez supplied seven and six points, respectively. Perez also controlled the glass with 10 rebounds.
The depth of the Gilas roster continued to be one of its biggest strengths as every player once again managed to score, marking the third consecutive game in which the entire lineup contributed offensively.
Unlike their previous victories, where opponents managed to stay within striking distance early, the Filipinas wasted no time asserting themselves against Thailand. Gilas raced to a 14-2 lead and closed the first quarter comfortably ahead, 20-6.
The defensive pressure only intensified as the game progressed. Thailand struggled to generate quality looks and was held to just nine points in the third quarter, allowing the hosts to stretch the gap to 67-33 entering the final period.
Thailand, which dropped to 0-2, could not produce a double-digit scorer. Kanyaphat Hookee and Paweetida Chanasimma led the team with nine points apiece as the Thais remained tied with Singapore at the bottom of the standings.
While Gilas enjoyed another dominant win, Indonesia sent a message of its own earlier in the day.
The Indonesians rolled past Vietnam, 81-32, to improve to 2-0 and keep pace with the Philippines atop the standings.
Richelle Widjaja scored 14 points to lead Indonesia, while Mabekou Talla Valerie posted a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds. Praisey Blessed delivered an all-around effort with eight points, seven rebounds, six assists, and four steals.
Vietnam absorbed its second straight defeat and slipped to 1-2. With both contenders yet to taste defeat and each winning its games by wide margins, Saturday’s clash between Gilas Pilipinas Girls and Indonesia promises to be the defining game of the tournament.
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