JEDDAH (Saudi Arabia) - The FIBA Asia Cup has seen its share of classic rivalries, and the one between Chinese Taipei vs. the Philippines is quickly joining that conversation.
The recent back-and-forth between these two proud basketball nations is giving the rivalry fresh life - and a lot more bite.
Close calls and turning points
The series between the Philippines and Chinese Taipei is tighter than many might expect. Out of eight meetings in major Asia Cup and Qualifier competitions, the Philippines lead just 5-3.
And in February 2025, Chinese Taipei reminded everyone of just how dangerous they can be - scoring a breakthrough 91–84 win at home in front of a fired-up home crowd. It was their first win over the Philippines in over a decade, snapping a long drought dating back to their dramatic 84-79 win in the 2013 Asia Cup.
That victory was more than just a win on paper. It was emotional. It was loud. It was overdue. With Mohammad Al Bachir Gadiaga and Lin Ting-Chien both scoring 21 points and Lu Chun-Hsiang delivering the dagger three in the final minute, Chinese Taipei showed resilience, belief, and teamwork - a fitting payoff after years of coming up short in this rivalry.
Blowouts and bounce-backs
Prior to that, however, the Philippines had seemed to have control and dominated on their counterparts.
Just a year earlier, in February 2024, Gilas Pilipinas had dismantled Chinese Taipei in Pasig, 106–53, behind a masterclass from Justin Brownlee (26 points, 13 rebounds) and Kai Sotto (18 points, 10 boards). It was one of the most dominant performances between the two sides, a reminder of the Philippines' depth, athleticism, and top-tier homecourt energy.
Gilas also swept Chinese Taipei in both matchups during the 2019 World Cup Qualifiers and had wins in the 2011 and 2009 Asia Cups. The firepower is there, the pedigree is proven - but now the gap feels just a little narrower.
The rivalry now
Both have a rich history of basketball between themselves, supported by a fanbase that are head over heels for their teams. And that's why this rivalry always feels like it's heated by a passionate flame.
The story isn’t done either. Both teams have been drawn into the same group for the FIBA Asia Cup 2025 in Jeddah, meaning the next chapter of this rivalry is coming early in the tournament. For Chinese Taipei, it’s a chance to prove their recent win wasn’t a one-off. For the Philippines, it’s about reasserting control and showing that they still have the upperhand..
One thing’s clear: this isn’t just a regional matchup anymore. It’s a rivalry - and it’s very much alive.
FIBA