GILAS Pilipinas Women's 3x3 suffered a tough 20-8 defeat to Japan in the main draw of the 2019 Fiba 3x3 Asia Cup Friday at Changsha, China.
The Japanese were quick to assert control of the game, seizing a 10-2 lead as the Filipinas had no answer to the opposition's onslaught.
Janine Pontejos topped Gilas Women's with three points in the losing effort.
Afril Bernardino and Jack Animam both had a pair, as Clare Castro got one.
The Philippines can still progress to the knockout playoffs if it wins its last Pool C game against Sri Lanka at 5:40 p.m.
Only the top two squads will advance to the quarterfinals.
Mio Shinozaki carried Japan with eight points, while Risa Nishioka had seven in the victory.
The scores:
JAPAN 20 -- Shinozaki 8, Nishioka 7, Iju 4, Miyashita 1.
PHILIPPINES 8 -- Pontejos 3, Bernardino 2, Animam 2, Castro 1.
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