The 2026 Asian Games are getting closer, and Team Philippines is now moving from preparation mode into actual competition mode.
While the opening ceremony of the 20th Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan is still scheduled for September 19, some Filipino athletes will be competing well before that date. In fact, Gilas Pilipinas is already on the road, preparing for a men’s basketball tournament that begins more than a week before the official opening of the Games.
And basketball is just one part of what could become a very busy few weeks for Philippine sports.
Around 430 Filipino athletes are expected to compete across 40 of the 43 sports at the Asian Games, according to the Philippine Olympic Committee’s July figures. The delegation is led by some of the country’s biggest sporting names, including Carlos Yulo, EJ Obiena and other athletes expected to contend for medals.
As of September 3, 2026, here’s the latest on Team Philippines heading into the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games.
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When Is the Asian Games 2026?
The 20th Asian Games will officially run from September 19 to October 4, 2026 in Aichi Prefecture and Nagoya, Japan.
The official program includes 43 sports, ranging from traditional Asian Games events such as athletics, swimming, basketball and gymnastics to sports including esports, breaking, cricket, skateboarding, surfing, mixed martial arts and padel.
However, don’t make the mistake of assuming that all events begin on September 19.
Several competitions start before the opening ceremony.
Men’s basketball, for example, begins on September 10, while Gilas Pilipinas plays its first game on September 11. The men’s basketball championship game is actually scheduled for September 20, only one day after the opening ceremony.
That means Filipino sports fans won’t have to wait until September 19 before the Asian Games action begins.
Gilas Pilipinas Is Already on the Road
The biggest Team Philippines development right now is Gilas Pilipinas.
The national men’s basketball team left Manila on September 2 and traveled to South Korea for the final phase of its Asian Games preparation.
Instead of flying directly to Japan, Gilas will first play a pair of exhibition games against the South Korean national team in Suwon.
The games are scheduled for September 4 and September 6.
After that, Tim Cone’s squad is expected to travel to Japan and continue preparing for its Asian Games opener.
These Korea games should give Cone and his coaching staff a much better idea of where this relatively new Gilas lineup stands before the games start counting.
And that’s especially important because this is not the same Gilas team Filipinos have been watching in the recent FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers.
A Very Different Gilas Team Will Defend the Gold Medal
That’s probably the most interesting part of the Philippine basketball story.
Gilas Pilipinas is the defending Asian Games men’s basketball champion.
The Philippines ended a 61-year Asian Games basketball gold-medal drought when Gilas won the championship in Hangzhou, defeating Jordan 70-60 in the final after a dramatic 77-76 semifinal victory over host China.
Now the Philippines has to defend that title with a considerably different lineup.
The Asian Games team that traveled to Korea currently has 11 players:
- Robert Bolick
- Adrian Nocum
- RJ Abarrientos
- Justin Arana
- Justine Baltazar
- Zavier Lucero
- Sedrick Barefield
- Jerrick Ahanmisi
- Don Trollano
- Brandon Bates
- Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser
Only Abarrientos, Arana and Baltazar were retained from the group involved in the recent FIBA World Cup qualifying window.
That gives this Gilas team a very different look.
But there may still be one major addition.
Gilas Is Saving the Final Spot for Justin Brownlee
Justin Brownlee’s status is one of the biggest stories to watch before the Philippines’ opening game.
Gilas traveled to Korea with only 11 players because Tim Cone is keeping the 12th roster spot available in case Brownlee becomes healthy enough to join the team.
Brownlee has been dealing with leg and hamstring problems.
Cone told The Philippine Star that the door remains open for Brownlee as long as the naturalized Filipino feels physically ready to play.
For Gilas fans, that’s a significant development.
Brownlee doesn’t need much introduction when it comes to the Asian Games.
He was one of the central figures in the Philippines’ historic 2023 run in Hangzhou, particularly during that unforgettable comeback victory over China in the semifinals.
Having him available again would give the Philippines another proven scorer and a player who has repeatedly delivered in high-pressure international games.
The concern, obviously, is his health.
There isn’t much value in rushing Brownlee back if he’s not physically ready, especially with the tournament compressed into a very short period.
Cone has also said the door is open for Kai Sotto, although his possible participation depends on his schedule.
For now, the safest way to look at it is this:
Gilas has 11 players ready to go, while the final roster spot remains one of the biggest unanswered questions heading into the tournament.
Gilas Pilipinas Asian Games 2026 Schedule
The official Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games organizing committee has confirmed the men’s basketball groupings and schedule.
The Philippines is in Group C with:
China
Bahrain
Kazakhstan
It’s not an easy group.
China remains one of Asia’s traditional basketball powers, while Bahrain has improved considerably in international competition. Kazakhstan can also be a difficult opponent, particularly in a short tournament where one poor game can change everything.
Here is the official Gilas group-stage schedule.
| Date | Match | Japan Time | Philippine Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| September 11 | Philippines vs Bahrain | 1:00 PM | 12:00 NN |
| September 12 | Kazakhstan vs Philippines | 7:00 PM | 6:00 PM |
| September 14 | China vs Philippines | 1:00 PM | 12:00 NN |
Japan is one hour ahead of the Philippines.
The men’s quarterfinals are scheduled for September 16, followed by the semifinals on September 18 and the gold-medal game on September 20.
Philippines vs China Could Be the Group’s Biggest Game
Of course, one matchup immediately jumps out.
Philippines versus China.
There’s history here.
At the previous Asian Games in Hangzhou, Gilas stunned China 77-76 in the semifinals after Justin Brownlee caught fire late in the game. That win sent the Philippines to the gold-medal match and eventually helped Gilas end its decades-long wait for an Asian Games basketball championship.
China will now get another shot at the Philippines on September 14.
The circumstances are different. The rosters are different. And this time, it’s a group-stage game.
But considering what happened in Hangzhou, don’t be surprised if Philippines vs China becomes one of the most anticipated basketball games of the entire Asian Games for Filipino fans.
Team Philippines Send-Off Set for September 10
While Gilas is already overseas, the Philippine Sports Commission is preparing an official send-off ceremony for the rest of Team Philippines.
The event is scheduled for September 10 at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum in Manila.
PSC Chairman Patrick Gregorio and Philippine Olympic Committee President Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino are expected to lead the send-off.
Some athletes will obviously already be abroad by then because several Asian Games events begin before September 19.
Still, the ceremony should mark the symbolic beginning of the country’s campaign in Aichi-Nagoya.
And expectations aren’t exactly low.
Philippines Wants to Beat Its Hangzhou Medal Haul
At the previous Asian Games, the Philippines finished with:
4 gold medals
2 silver medals
12 bronze medals
That’s 18 medals overall.
The country finished 17th in the medal table.
For Aichi-Nagoya, Philippine sports officials have publicly expressed confidence that Team Philippines can improve on that performance.
That means the obvious benchmark is more than four gold medals.
It’s ambitious, but there are several Filipino athletes who have legitimate chances of reaching the podium.
Carlos Yulo Leads the Philippine Delegation
Carlos Yulo will naturally be one of the biggest Filipino names at the Asian Games.
Yulo became one of the most successful athletes in Philippine Olympic history after winning two gymnastics gold medals at the Paris 2024 Olympics.
Now he heads to Japan as one of Team Philippines’ biggest medal hopes.
The POC’s latest delegation figure listed around 430 Filipino athletes competing in 40 of the 43 Asian Games sports, with Yulo identified as one of the athletes leading the contingent.
And there’s an interesting storyline here.
Despite everything Yulo has already accomplished—including becoming an Olympic champion—an Asian Games gold medal would add another major title to his résumé.
That makes his gymnastics events among the competitions Filipino fans should closely follow once the Games begin.
EJ Obiena Gets More Time to Prepare for His Asian Games Title Defense
Another athlete expected to attract plenty of attention is EJ Obiena.
Obiena recently competed at the Domspringen International Meet in Wesel, Germany, where he cleared 5.75 meters and finished with the silver medal.
He attempted 5.85 meters three times but couldn’t clear the height.
Ordinarily, missing out on upcoming major international competitions would be disappointing.
But in this case, it may actually help his Asian Games preparation.
Obiena did not qualify for the Diamond League Final in Brussels and also missed a place in the World Athletics Ultimate Championships in Budapest.
That gives him additional time to rest and recover before the Asian Games.
And rest may be exactly what he needs.
Obiena has gone through a very heavy competition schedule in Europe, so having additional recovery time before heading to Japan could be valuable.
More importantly, he enters Aichi-Nagoya as the defending Asian Games men’s pole vault champion.
At the Hangzhou Asian Games, Obiena won gold after clearing 5.90 meters.
So for EJ, the mission isn’t simply to reach the podium.
It’s to defend the title.
Alex Eala Is Another Athlete to Watch
Alex Eala is also expected to generate enormous attention from Filipino fans.
And her timing is particularly interesting.
Eala is currently competing at the US Open, where she defeated American Mary Stoiana 6-1, 6-2 to move into the second round.
Once her US Open campaign is over, attention should quickly shift toward her Asian Games appearance.
Philippine sports officials have included Eala among the athletes expected to contend strongly for medals in Japan, alongside names such as Yulo, Obiena, weightlifter Elreen Ando and members of the national boxing team.
Considering how much Eala’s profile has grown, her Asian Games schedule, opponents and results could become some of the most-followed Team Philippines stories during the tournament.
Philippine Football Teams Are Also Going to the Asian Games
Both Philippine football programs will have something to play for in Japan.
The Philippine men’s team secured its Asian Games spot after India withdrew, while the women’s national team had already qualified.
The men’s Philippines squad was drawn into Group C alongside:
Vietnam
Uzbekistan
Kuwait
The Philippine women’s team, meanwhile, is in Group G with:
China
Uzbekistan
Hong Kong, China
The football competitions are another example of why fans shouldn’t wait for September 19 before following Team Philippines. Some events begin before the opening ceremony.
Alas Pilipinas Men and Women Are Also Qualified
Philippine volleyball will also have a major presence.
Both the men’s and women’s indoor volleyball teams qualified for the Asian Games.
The Philippine Olympic Committee previously announced player pools featuring several familiar national-team names.
The men’s team was drawn into Pool D together with:
South Korea
China
Chinese Taipei
Philippines
That’s clearly a difficult pool.
The women’s draw also puts the Philippines into another challenging Asian Games field.
Volleyball competition is scheduled for late September into early October, giving Filipino fans another national-team storyline to follow after the early basketball games.
Pressure Is High for the Philippine Sepak Takraw Team
One of the more unusual stories coming out of Team Philippines involves sepak takraw.
Pilipinas Sepak Takraw Association president Karen Tanchanco-Caballero has challenged the national athletes to bring home medals from Japan.
According to Caballero, members of the team have submitted courtesy resignations that could take effect if they fail to win an Asian Games medal.
That’s a lot of pressure.
But the Philippine team isn’t going to Japan without reason for confidence.
The Philippines won bronze medals in both the men’s regu and men’s quadrant events at the previous Asian Games. More recently, Filipino athletes also won medals at the ISTAF World Sepaktakraw Championship/King’s Cup in Thailand.
Sepak takraw may not attract the same mainstream attention as basketball or gymnastics, but it could become important to the Philippines’ overall medal count.
Who Are the Philippines’ Biggest Medal Hopes?
It’s always difficult to predict Asian Games medals because the level of competition across Asia is extremely high.
But based on recent results, experience and comments from Philippine sports officials, several names and teams should receive plenty of attention.
Carlos Yulo is an obvious one in gymnastics.
EJ Obiena enters as the defending Asian Games pole vault champion.
Alex Eala will be closely watched in tennis.
The Philippines also has established international contenders in weightlifting and boxing.
And then there’s Gilas Pilipinas, which enters the tournament carrying something it hasn’t had to carry in generations:
The pressure of being defending Asian Games champion.
That’s a very different position from 2023, when the Philippines went into Hangzhou trying to end a 61-year championship drought.
This time, everyone knows Gilas is capable of winning.
The Philippines Has a Real Chance to Improve on Four Gold Medals
Can Team Philippines beat the four gold medals it won in Hangzhou?
It’s possible.
But Asian Games competition is brutal.
China, Japan and South Korea traditionally field enormous and highly competitive delegations. Nations such as Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Iran, India, Chinese Taipei, Thailand, Indonesia and others are also strong across different sports.
Winning an Asian Games gold medal is never easy.
Still, Philippine sports has changed considerably over the last several years.
Filipino athletes are increasingly reaching finals, winning world-level competitions and competing against the best athletes outside Southeast Asia.
Carlos Yulo is a two-time Olympic champion.
EJ Obiena has established himself among the world’s elite pole vaulters.
Alex Eala continues climbing in international tennis.
Philippine boxers and weightlifters have repeatedly shown they can win medals at the highest level.
And Gilas Pilipinas is no longer going to the Asian Games trying to prove that winning basketball gold is possible.
They’ve already done it.
Now they have to do it again.
What to Watch Before the Asian Games Opening Ceremony
The next several days should be particularly important for Team Philippines.
For basketball fans, the biggest thing to monitor is Justin Brownlee’s health.
Gilas plays South Korea in tune-up games on September 4 and September 6 before traveling to Japan. Those games should provide the clearest look yet at how Tim Cone’s new lineup is coming together.
Then comes the real thing.
Gilas opens against Bahrain on September 11, faces Kazakhstan the following day and closes the group stage against China on September 14.
Meanwhile, other Philippine teams and athletes will gradually make their way to Japan ahead of their respective events.
The official Team Philippines send-off is scheduled for September 10.
And then, on September 19, the Asian Games officially opens.
Asian Games 2026 Philippines Key Dates
Here are some of the dates Filipino sports fans should remember:
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| September 4 | Gilas vs South Korea tune-up |
| September 6 | Gilas vs South Korea tune-up |
| September 10 | Team Philippines official send-off |
| September 11 | Gilas vs Bahrain |
| September 12 | Gilas vs Kazakhstan |
| September 14 | Gilas vs China |
| September 16 | Men’s basketball quarterfinals |
| September 18 | Men’s basketball semifinals |
| September 19 | Asian Games opening ceremony |
| September 20 | Men’s basketball medal games |
| October 4 | Asian Games closing day |
The official Asian Games runs from September 19 through October 4, although basketball, football and several other competitions begin earlier.
Final Thoughts
The Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games hasn’t officially opened yet, but for Team Philippines, the campaign is already beginning.
Gilas Pilipinas is in South Korea preparing to defend its basketball gold medal. Justin Brownlee is racing against time to become available. EJ Obiena is getting valuable recovery time before defending his pole vault title. Carlos Yulo enters the Games as a two-time Olympic champion. Alex Eala could arrive in Japan after another major stretch on the international tennis circuit.
And behind those headline names are hundreds of Filipino athletes hoping to contribute to the medal tally.
The number everyone will remember is four.
That’s how many gold medals the Philippines won at the previous Asian Games.
If Team Philippines can surpass that total in Aichi-Nagoya, this could become another important chapter in what has already been an encouraging period for Philippine sports.
But before we get there, basketball comes first.
Gilas begins its Asian Games title defense against Bahrain on September 11.
And from that point onward, expect Team Philippines’ Asian Games campaign to move very quickly.
This article will be updated as new information becomes available regarding the Gilas Pilipinas roster, Justin Brownlee’s status, Team Philippines schedules, results and the Philippine medal tally.
