Gilas Pilipinas Boys moved a step closer to securing a berth in the FIBA 3×3 Under-23 World Cup after topping the penultimate stop of the Youth Nations League–Asia 2 Conference, edging New Zealand, 21-19, on Saturday at Hextar World Empire City in Petaling Jaya, Malaysia.
The Philippines widened its lead atop the standings with 420 points, holding a 30-point advantage over second-running Japan heading into the final stop on Sunday.
New Zealand remained in third with 380 points, followed by Belarus with 360.
Gilas Boys can officially book its spot in the World Cup, set for September 15 to 19 in Wuhan, China, by defeating New Zealand and Singapore in the final stop. Doing so would give the Philippines a minimum of 500 points, while Japan can only finish with a maximum of 490.
Once again, the trio of Cabs Cabonilas, Koji Buenaflor, and Earl Medina powered the Philippines.
Trailing 17-15, Cabonilas converted a free throw before Buenaflor scored inside to tie the game at 17-all.
New Zealand regained the lead after a two-pointer by Hugo Garcia, but Cabonilas immediately answered with a deuce of his own to keep the Philippines in the fight.
After forcing a defensive stop, Medina buried the game-clinching two-pointer with 1:16 remaining to secure the country’s second stop title.
Cabonilas and Buenaflor finished with eight points each in the final, while Medina added five points, highlighted by two two-pointers.
Garcia paced New Zealand with 11 points.
The Philippines advanced to the final after sweeping its pool, first defeating Japan, 13-8, before dispatching host Malaysia, 21-14.
Buenaflor led the way against Japan with five points, while Medina and Jedric Daa chipped in three apiece.
Against Malaysia, Cabonilas scored seven points, Medina added six, and Daa and Buenaflor contributed four points each.
Meanwhile, Gilas Pilipinas Girls, despite already being out of contention for a World Cup berth, recorded its best finish of the conference by placing third in the stop.
The Filipinas remained fifth overall with 290 points, just 60 behind third-running New Zealand and only 10 behind fourth-place Malaysia.
After opening the day with a 21-17 loss to New Zealand, Gilas Girls bounced back with a 21-16 victory over Malaysia. Marga Villanueva led the way with 10 points, while Alyssa Rodriguez added eight.
Gilas Girls will wrap up its campaign on Sunday, where it is grouped with Japan and Singapore in the final stop.
