JEDDAH (Saudi Arabia) – Chinese Taipei leaned on a hot start and a monster outing from Chen Ying-Chun to turn back the Philippines, 95-87, in their FIBA Asia Cup 2025 opener on Tuesday at King Abdullah Sports City.
Chen starred from start to finish, torching the nets for 34 points on 6 triples and 10-of-17 field goal shooting, while Brandon Gilbeck added 16 points and 9 rebounds in a composed performance in the paint. With the win, Taipei rise to 1-0 in Group D and gain early momentum ahead of their next matchup against Iraq.
The game opened with Taipei setting the tone. They were aggressive, disciplined and deadly from long range. They built a 10-2 lead early, forcing the Philippines into the penalty just four minutes in. A barrage of three-pointers extended the gap to 25-8 before Justin Brownlee drilled a halfcourt heave at the buzzer to stop the bleeding. Still, Taipei held a commanding 27-16 edge after the first quarter.
The second period saw Gilas Pilipinas respond with urgency. Scottie Thompson and Calvin Oftana led a 12-5 surge that trimmed the lead to four, 32-28, but Taipei’s composure never wavered. Robert Hinton came alive late in the frame to help restore a nine-point cushion, 43-34, at halftime. Chen already had 17 points by then, pacing the offense with confidence and precision.
Gilbeck helped anchor Taipei’s third-quarter push, as the lead ballooned to 51-38 early in the period. The Philippines found themselves in foul trouble once more, and Brownlee’s fourth foul with seven minutes left dampened their momentum. Though the Filipinos managed to cut the lead to single digits late in the quarter, a costly sequence — a personal foul and technical — closed out the period with Taipei still ahead 73-62.
To their credit, the Philippines didn’t back down. A pair of stops and a Kevin Quiambao triple brought the game within reach at 80-74 in the final frame, but the effort came at a steep cost. Brownlee fouled out with under five minutes left, leaving Gilas without their primary scorer and playmaker.
Taipei capitalized. Chen knocked down his fifth three of the night to push the lead back to nine, and his sixth soon after all but sealed the outcome. The final minutes saw Chinese Taipei calmly execute, while the Philippines were left to chase a deficit that proved too steep.
Thompson was the top Gilas performer with 16 points, 7 rebounds and 5 assists in a valiant effort. Brownlee finished with 19 points before fouling out.
Chinese Taipei now aim for a 2-0 start when they face Iraq on Thursday, while the Philippines look to bounce back against New Zealand in a crucial encounter.
FIBA