Team Philippines targets eight golds at 2026 Asian Games

Team Philippines has officially launched its campaign for the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan. During a formal send-off event at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum, sports officials expressed an ambitious target of winning at least eight gold medals, aiming to double the country's previous best performances.

In the opening basketball action, the defending champions Gilas Pilipinas suffered an 89-85 defeat against Bahrain. Despite a 31-point performance from Calvin Oftana, the Philippine squad struggled during a critical stretch in the middle quarters, allowing Bahrain to build a significant lead that proved difficult to overcome in the final minutes.

Other highlights from the delegation include the selection of weightlifter Albert Ian Delos Santos and boxer Aira Villegas as the national flag bearers. Athletes such as wushu specialist Agatha Wong have also expressed their readiness to compete for podium finishes as the games progress.