THE Gilas Pilipinas 3×3 lady cagers carved their names in history with a remarkable fourth-place finish at the FIBA Asia Cup 3×3, their best performance yet in the continental half-court showcase.
Despite falling to powerhouse China, 11-21, in the battle for third place on Sunday night, the Filipinas won the admiration of fans in Singapore with their Filipino brand of never-say-die spirit.
The Women Gilas’ campaign was made even more challenging by the absence of key player Camille Clarin, who suffered a high-grade partial ACL tear in her right knee.
Yet, the trio of Mikka Cacho, Jhazmin Joson, and Kaye Pingol rose to the occasion, defying the odds with a courageous run through the knockout stage.
In the quarterfinals, Gilas faced off against last edition’s bronze medalist, Mongolia. Down 3-10 early in the match, the Filipinas staged a stunning comeback to topple the world No. 10 team, securing a hard-earned spot in the semifinals.
However, Japan proved to be a formidable opponent, dealing Gilas a 9-22 defeat in the final four. The squad wrapped up its campaign with another tough loss to China in the third-place match, yet its fourth-place finish was enough reason for fans to celebrate back home.
With their fourth-place finish, Gilas Pilipinas 3×3 women surpassed their previous best performance—a sixth-place finish in the 2024 edition of the tournament.