GILAS Pilipinas gave it all against top-seed Mongolia but nonetheless suffered a 21-19 loss at the start of its pool play campaign in the FIBA 3x3 Asia Cup on Saturday at the OCBC Arena in Singapore.
The Philippines led 18-15, but the half court powerhouse team went on a 6-1 endgame run to steal the win away.
The heartbreaker suddenly pushed Gilas into a do-or-die game against Chinese Taipei in the nightcap to determine the second best team to come out in Pool A.
Mongolia earlier defeated Chinese Taipei, 21-15, to complete a two-game sweep of the pool play and clinch a berth in the knockout quarterfinals.
Gilas reached the main draw with a two-game sweep of the qualifiers against Maldives and Thailand.
Ralph Cu led the Philippines with eight points and five rebounds, including 3-of-6 from two-point range, while Chris Koon added seven including the first three points of the team.
Back-to-back deuces by Cu gave Gilas its biggest lead at 12-5.
But Mongolia didn't blink and climbed its way back, eventually taking the lead at 18-19 on two straight 2s by Chinkhutag Munkh-Ulzii.
Twice, Gilas bungled a potential game-winning deuce by Koon and Cu before Ganbaatar Nyamdorj scored Mongolia's final two baskets to seal the deal.
Bolor-Erdene Gantsolmon led Mongolia with seven points, while Nyamdorj added six points and seven rebounds.
The scores
Mongolia 21 - Gantsolmon 7, Nyamdorj 6, Munkh-Ulzii 4, Erdenetsetseg 4.
Philippines 19 - Cu 8, Koon 7, Ahanmisi 2, Alter 2.
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