Gilas Pilipinas Boys came up just short against Belarus in the final of Stop 1 of the 2026 FIBA 3×3 Youth Nations League – Asia 2 Conference, absorbing a heartbreaking 20-19 defeat on Monday at Hextar World Empire City in Petaling Jaya, Malaysia.
Belarus, which is competing in the Asia conference after FIBA allowed it and Russia to rejoin international youth basketball exclusively through 3×3 conferences hosted in China and Malaysia due to restrictions in Europe, also captured the women’s title in the opening stop after edging Japan, 19-17, in overtime.
In the men’s final, the game was tied at 15-all before Aleksei Baldin caught fire, knocking down back-to-back baskets to give Belarus an 18-15 advantage with 1:18 remaining.
Earl Medina answered with a booming two-pointer to keep Gilas within striking distance, but David-Masenhe Mukete converted an and-one play to restore Belarus’ three-point cushion.
Medina and Jedric Daa trimmed the deficit to just one point in the closing seconds, but Gilas ran out of time to complete the comeback.
Medina led the Philippines with seven points, while Cabs Cabonilas and Koji Buenaflor chipped in five points apiece.
Mukete paced Belarus with eight points, while Arseni Viarzhbitski added six.
The Philippines reached the final after defeating New Zealand, 22-17, and Malaysia, 21-14, in the group stage.
Buenaflor scored nine points in the win over New Zealand, then teamed up with Cabonilas to finish with seven points each against Malaysia.
The Gilas Pilipinas Girls squad of Alyssa Rodriguez, Elaine Patio, Kristan Yumul, and Marga Villanueva, meanwhile, struggled in the opening stop, falling to Japan, 21-10, before suffering a 20-11 loss to Malaysia.
Action resumes on Tuesday for Stop 2, with Gilas Boys grouped alongside Japan and Malaysia, while Gilas Girls will face New Zealand and Malaysia.
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