GILAS Pilipinas mens’ 3x3 bombed out of the FIBA Asia Cup after losing back-to-back games against Australia and Japan in the main draw on Saturday at the Singapore Sports Hub.
The Filipinos suffered a 20-13 loss to last year’s runner-up Australia and then went down against third seed Japan, 22-12. The team emerged winless in two games in Pool C during the preliminary round.
It was the second straight year the country failed to reach the knockout round of the tournament.
In 2022 though, Gilas 3x3 stunned powerhouse Mongolia, 21-20, on a last second game-winner by Almond Vosotros to make it to the semifinals.
The Filipinos went toe-to-toe with the Aussies, the three-time champion which the country held to a 13-13 standoff in the first five minutes of their game.
But veteran Todd Blanchield suddenly caught fire and scored Australia's seven of an 8-0 run to finish off Gilas Pilipinas.
Gilas had nothing much to offer in its second game as the Japanese proved to be a tough nut to crack, 19-17, and took over a game it dominated right from the get go.
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