Gilas Pilipinas Youth looks to kick off its FIBA U18 Asia Cup campaign on a high note as it faces Chinese Taipei on Thursday at the Veer Savarkar Indoor Stadium in India.

Tip-off is set at 4 p.m. (Manila time), with Gilas Youth targeting at least a top-four finish to secure a spot in the 2027 FIBA U19 Basketball World Cup in Pardubice, Czech Republic.

Joining the Philippines and Chinese Taipei in Group A are defending champion Australia and Thailand. Only the top team in each group will advance directly to the quarterfinals, while the second- and third-placed teams will battle in a qualification game for the remaining quarterfinal spots.

Gilas Youth hopes to erase the bad taste of its 10th-place finish in the 2024 edition in Jordan.

With University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) champion coach Juno Sauler at the helm, the Philippines is hoping to make a deeper run in the Asia Cup.

Gilas assistant coach Andre Santos told DAILY TRIBUNE that exposing the players to UAAP teams and competitive tournaments has helped them adjust to the physicality while building chemistry.

“Even when we saw the U18 team this year, they joined the Filoil Preseason Cup, so it’s about joining games, joining tournaments as early as possible, just to make sure that the chemistry of the players is developed early,” said Santos, who is also an assistant of Yuri Escueta at San Beda University.

“They’re feeling good and well prepared for the game tomorrow.”

Rising star Chog Moral banners the national squad alongside mainstays Ethan Aguas, Andrew Chio, Pat Pasinos and Bruce Tubongbanua.