Gilas Pilipinas Men’s 3×3 did just enough to survive a late scare, edging Thailand’s men’s 3×3 team, 17–15, to secure a place in the main draw of the FIBA 3×3 Asia Cup 2026 on Thursday at the OCBC Square.
The Filipinos imposed themselves early, dictating tempo and capitalizing on defensive stops to build a commanding 14–5 cushion. Ralph Cu delivered the standout moment of that run, drilling a tough two-pointer in the corner over Chanatip Jakrawan as the shot clock expired.
It looked like a routine finish was on the cards. It was anything but.
Thailand’s Late Surge Ruffles Gilas Pilipinas
Momentum shifted abruptly as Thailand clawed its way back into contention. Jakrawan led the charge, exploiting turnovers and hurried possessions from Gilas to ignite a 10–3 swing.
A powerful finish at the rim cut the gap to two, forcing the Filipinos into uncomfortable territory. Jerrick Ahanmisi momentarily steadied the side with a timely two, but Thailand refused to fade.
Freddie Lish, quiet for most of the contest, suddenly found his rhythm, knocking down consecutive baskets to bring the deficit to 17–15. Gilas, meanwhile, struggled to generate clean looks, with rushed attempts creeping into their offence.
With 4.3 seconds remaining, a shot clock violation handed Thailand a final opportunity to steal the result. The possession, however, fell short. Lish’s attempt from beyond the arc missed its mark, allowing Gilas to escape and seal progression.
Balanced Effort Carries Gilas
Cu paced the Philippines with 6 points, while Chris Koon added 5 and Ahanmisi chipped in 4. For Thailand, Jakrawan finished with 7, while Lish contributed 5 in a late push that nearly flipped the game.
The win sends Gilas into Pool A alongside Mongolia and Chinese Taipei, with crucial matchups lined up on Black Saturday.
Redemption After Qualifier Exit
The result marks a turnaround from last year’s disappointment, when Gilas failed to advance past the qualifiers. This time, they delivered when it mattered most—albeit with late-game nerves.
Earlier in the day, both sides dominated Maldives to set up their decisive clash. The Philippines leaned on Ahanmisi in a 21–16 win, while Thailand cruised behind Lish’s scoring burst.
