Gilas Women fall to Chinese Taipei to end FIBA 3x3 Asia Cup run

Gilas Pilipinas Women failed to sustain their hot start after bowing to Chinese Taipei in the quarterfinals, 19-9, of the 2024 FIBA 3x3 Asia Cup on Sunday at the Singapore Sports Hub in Singapore.

The Filipinas, who came into the match unscathed from both the qualifying and main draw rounds, have formally ended their campaign while Chinese Taipei will take on New Zealand in the semifinals later today. 

National team mainstay Camille Clarin caught fire early with three straight points to bring Gilas to a 4-3 early lead before the opposing side responded with a massive 6-1 run led by Hung-Ting Kuo for a 9-5 cushion. 

Clarin then issued a pass to a cutting Mikka Cacho, 6-9, as the Eric Altamirano-led crew continued to look for a much-needed spark. Kaye Pingol and Jhazmin Joson then nailed back-to-back baskets to cut the deficit to six, 8-14. 

However, a dagger two-point basket from Shih-Han Hsu from the top of the key ultimately ended the Philippines' dream run even after Cacho's desperate layup in the final seconds. 

Clarin and Cacho both tallied three points with the former chipping in five rebounds as well. Pingol and Joson, meanwhile, put together two and one point apiece. 

Gilas kicked off its campaign with a dominant 3-0 win-loss card in the qualifying draw, beating the squads from Tahiti, Maldives, and Kazakhstan to punch a ticket to the main draw. They then pulled off lopsided victories against Mongolia and Malaysia to enter the knockout round. 

—Bea Micaller/JKC, GMA Integrated News