Gilas Pilipinas Men bowed out of the 2024 FIBA 3×3 Asia Cup.
The Philippines were overwhelmed by Australia, 21-13 (7:35), and Japan 22-12 (8:48), and were eliminated from contention on Saturday at the OCBC Square in Singapore.
Gilas Men also failed to advance from the pool stages a year ago.
Not having top 3×3 player Almond Vosotros and Gryann Mendoza in the competition did not help Mau Belen in securing a successful national team debut.
Vosotros had been out since the last conference of the PBA 3×3 tournament while Mendoza was a late scratch due to injury and was replaced by Yutien Andrada.
Keeping pace with the Aussies until the midway point of the contest — even tying the contest at 13-all with a little over four minutes left, the Boomers broke away with Todd Blanchfield simply taking over.
Blanchfield, who ended up with 13 points, drained three deuces in a span of two minutes — including the kill shot with 2:15 left in the contest.
Australia also defeated Japan earlier in the day, 20-13, to gain top seed in Pool C.
In the do-or-die game later in the evening, unforced errors sealed the deal for Gilas.
The Akatsuki 3×3 raced to an 11-5 lead and never looked back.
Thomas Kennedy bullied his way to the tune of 11 points while Ryuto Yasuoka drained three deuces for eight points.
Joseph Sedurifa led the charge for the Filipinos with a total of 11 points in the two games played while Ping Exciminiano amassed seven points.
The Scores:
First Game:
Australia 21 – Blanchfield 13, O’Donnell 3, Hickey 3, Davey 2.
Philippines 13 – Sedurifa 7, Exciminiano 3, Saldua 2, Andrada 1.
Time: Blanchfield 2 (7:35)
Second Game:
Japan 22 – Kennedy 11, Yasuoka 8, Ochiai 2, Saito 1.
Philippines 12 – Exciminiano 4, Sedurifa 4, Saldua 3, Andrada 1.
Time: Yasuoka 2 (8:48)
