Gilas Pilipinas Women face a must-win situation heading into the final stop of the 2026 FIBA 3×3 Nations League-Asia SEA Conference.
The Philippines failed to reach the Stop 5 finals after splitting its two games in the group phase — a 17-6 win over Vietnam and a 16-11 loss to New Zealand — on Saturday at Hextar World, Empire City in Petaling Jaya, Malaysia.
Heading into the final stop, Gilas Women hold a slim 410-400 lead over Stop 5 champion Chinese Taipei, while New Zealand sits third with 380 points.
Only one slot for the FIBA 3×3 Under-23 World Cup is at stake in the conference.
Against Vietnam, Kennan Ka and Amyah Espanol led the way with seven and six points, respectively.
New Zealand, however, imposed its physicality on the Filipinas in the second matchup, breaking a 5-5 deadlock to take an 11-6 lead, with Maia Jones scoring four points during the run.
Although Jam Meniano knocked down two deuces to cut the deficit to 12-10, New Zealand came up with key defensive stops before Madeline Morrow sank a deuce, followed by back-to-back baskets from Jones to seal the win.
Maya Taingahue has been ruled out for the final stop, leaving New Zealand with only three healthy players heading into Stop 6.
Meniano scored six points against New Zealand, while Jones and Morrow finished with eight and six, respectively.
For Stop 6, the Philippines is grouped with Thailand and New Zealand in the pool phase.
Meanwhile, New Zealand clinched the men’s division after winning its fourth stop, moving to the top of the conference standings with 480 points—100 ahead of the Philippines and 110 clear of Malaysia.
The quartet of Luis Pablo, Doy Dungo, Shawn Tuano, and Andrew Bongo defeated Thailand, 21-15, to open the day before falling to Chinese Taipei, 21-16.
