BOCAUE — A gallant stand by the Philippinewomen’s 3x3 team ended in heartache as the hosts suffered a narrow 12-10 defeat to Germany in the 2018 Fiba 3x3 World Cup at Philippine Arena.
The Perlas Pilipinas girls stayed with the taller Germans until the final minute but missed four two-pointers in the dying seconds in a desperate attempt to force overtime.
The hosts instead dropped to 0-2 in Pool D.
Janine Pontejos could not buy a bucket in the endgame. Afril Bernardino kept the hosts within 10-11, but her last-gasp corner two-ball went wide right, allowing the Germans to escape with their first victory in two games.
Luana Rodefeld drained four points, including the clutch 15-foot jumper that gave Germany the two-point breathing room heading into the final minute.
Laura Zdravevska added four points while Wiebke Bruns got three for the Germans.
Bernardino scored six points while Gemma Miranda had two for the Philippines, which will round out its schedule on Sunday against pool co-leaders Spain and Hungary.
The scores:
GERMANY 12 — Rodefeld 4, Zdravevska 4, Bruns 3, Muller 1.
PHILIPPINES 10 — Bernardino 6, Miranda 2, Animam 1, Pontejos 1.