While jumping between 3×3 and 5-on-5 basketball on a daily basis can be challenging, De La Salle University’s Luis Pablo and Far Eastern University’s Amyah Espanol could not be more grateful to be part of the Philippine delegation to the upcoming 2026 Asian Games in Japan.
Pablo will team up with fellow Green Archer Doy Dungo, UST Growling Tiger Koji Buenaflor, and Biñan’s Nic Cabañero in the men’s 3×3 tournament, where the Philippines was grouped with Mongolia, Kazakhstan, and Sri Lanka.
Meanwhile, Espanol is expected to join forces with Ateneo de Manila University’s Kacey Dela Rosa, University of the Philippines’ Kennan Ka, and FEU teammate Victoria Pasilang in the women’s division, where the Filipinas were pooled with Mongolia, Malaysia, and Macau.
(C) UAAP Media Team
“I’m really grateful that I get to play in the Asian Games coming up. It will be really nice to get some more 3×3 experience from the last Nations League. It will be good coming into the UAAP season, playing with all the great players,” said Espanol on Tuesday during the UAAP Season 89 press conference at the Novotel Manila.
“Siyempre, super grateful and blessed ako to be able to play for the national team and represent our country. Super grateful, even though sabay siya sa UAAP. I’m still excited and motivated to play,” echoed Pablo, the eighth-ranked men’s 3×3 player in the country.
For Pablo, answering the call of national duty is something he will never turn down.
He also represented the Philippines last August in the FIBA 3×3 Youth Nations League Asia SEA Conference, where the team placed second.
(C) UAAP Media Team
“La Salle was really happy and supportive that me and my teammate, my brother Doy will play for 3×3. Obviously, it’s a bit challenging balancing the trainings with La Salle and the national team. But it’s also a challenge for us to balance yung school duties namin and national duties namin,” said Pablo.
“Sobrang grateful kami sa experience na ito so any given time na ibigay yung opportunity na ito, we will take it all the time.”
Meanwhile, Espanol continued to soak in the career growth she has experienced in just two years in the Philippines.
After moving to the Philippines to play for FEU in the UAAP just last year, the 13th-ranked women’s 3×3 player in the country has already become a vital piece of the national team’s three-a-side program.
Her late scoring burst in the Stop 6 final of the FIBA 3×3 Nations League Asia SEA Conference last August helped the Philippines secure a spot in the FIBA 3×3 Under-23 World Cup in Wuhan, China, this month.
“I never thought it would happen this quickly. I’m only 21 — I’m only here for two years now. It was always my dream to play for the national team; that was the point in moving here, but I didn’t know it would happen so fast,” said the Lady Tamaraw.
“I’m really grateful for the opportunity to show what I have so far.”
