THE Gilas Pilipinas women’s team is headed to the finals of the FIBA 3x3 Asia Cup for the first time ever.
The Filipinas rallied from five points down in the final three minutes to nip Japan, 21-19, in Sunday’s semifinals at the OCBC Arena in Singapore.
READ Korea shows Gilas Men the door in Fiba 3x3 Asia Cup
The inspiring win avenged the Philippines’ 21-9 loss to the same country in the semifinals of the tournament last year.
Gilas will now face defending champion Australia in the finals, which escaped with a thrilling 21-20 win over China.
The Philippines however, lost to Australia in their initial meeting in the group stage, 21-10.
Back-to-back UAAP Finals MVP Kacey Dela Rosa held her own against the taller Japanese side, finishing with 10 points, including the game-clinching basket that led to a wild celebration by the Filipinas inside the court.
Things appeared lost for the Filipinas earlier after trailing 16-19 with 1:58 remaining on the fifth and final deuce of hot-shooting Miku Takahashi.
But Dela Rosa quickly answered underneath before Cheska Apag – coming in for the elbowed Mikka Cacho - buried a pressure-packed 2 to level the count at 19.
After a missed attempt by Takahashi, Bernadino converted on her own offensive rebound to put the Philippines on the hill, 20-19.
Bernardino added five points and six rebounds, Cacho had four, and Apag with two as the Gilas quartet assured the Philippine women’s team its best finish ever in the annual tournament.
Takahashi had 11 to lead Japan, which will battle China for the bronze medal.
Like Gilas, the the Aussies also pulled off a comeback of their own against China, 21-20, capped by a game-winning deuce by Amy Atwell at the buzzer.
The defending champions appeared on the ropes as it trailed the Chinese, 20-14.
But Atwell willed the Aussies back by scoring six of the team’s final seven points including the game winner.
The scores
Philippines (21) – Dela Rosa 10, Bernardino 5, Cacho 4, Apag 2.
Japan (19) – Takahashi 11, Hanashima 6, Noguchi 2, Tsurumi 0.
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