INDIA denied Gilas Pilipinas a berth in the main draw of the FIBA 3x3 Asia Cup as it dealt the Filipinos a 21-11 loss in the final day of the qualifier on Thursday at the OCBC Arena in Singapore.
The Filipinos took the early initiative and led 6-4 before the Indians retaliated with five unanswered points to wrest the upper hand, 9-6.
Harsh Dagar then spearheaded a closing 10-3 run to make it a 19-9 lead for India.
READ Enough time for Brownlee to heal injured thumb before joining Gilas
The Indians finished the qualifier as the top team in Group B with a 3-0 record after earlier wins over South Korea, 21-11, and Macau, 21-6.
The Philippines ended up second at 2-1 as it beat Macau, 21-11, and South Korea, 17-15.
India now joins No. 2 seed China and Chinese Taipei in Pool B of the main draw starting on Friday.
Dagar finished with a game-high 10 points, while Pranav Prince added six for the 18th seeded Indians.
Jeff Manday had four points to show the way for the Philippines, who was seeded no. 10 in the five-day meet.
Other members of the team are Joseph Sedurifa, JJ Manlangit, and Jose Antonio Eusebio. Also part of the pool of coach Patrick Fran are Lawrence Hawkins and Alfred Batino.
The team was accompanied by Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) 3x3 program director and team manager Ronnie Magsanoc.
The Gilas Pilipinas women’s 3x3 meanwhile, will start its campaign in the main draw on March 29.
Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph
NOTICE ON UNAUTHORIZED AND UNLAWFUL USE, PUBLICATION, AND/OR DISSEMINATION OF SPIN.PH CONTENT: Please be notified that any unauthorized and unlawful use, publication, and/or dissemination of Spin.ph’s content and/or materials is a direct violation of its legal and exclusive rights to the same, and shall be subject to appropriate legal action/s.
