The Gilas Pilipinas 3x3 women's team has made history by securing a spot in the gold medal match at the Asian Beach Games, guaranteeing their best-ever finish in the tournament. The Filipinas defeated Singapore 20-13 in the semifinals held at the Sanya Sports Centre Gymnasium in Sanya, China on Wednesday.
Key Performances Propel Gilas to Victory
Mikka Cacho played a pivotal role, scoring crucial baskets including an early and-one play followed by another score that extended the Philippines' lead to 9-5 with 6:46 remaining in the game. Singapore attempted to stay competitive with outside shooting, cutting the deficit to three points at 9-12. However, Tantoy Ferrer and Kaye Pingol combined efforts to maintain the cushion, pushing the lead to six points at 17-11 with 2:26 left on the clock.
Cacho led the team with eight points, while Ferrer added six markers. Pingol contributed five points, and Gabi Bade sealed the win with the final point of the match with five seconds remaining.
Players Express Determination for Final
After the match, Cacho acknowledged the hard-fought victory and expressed readiness for the final against host country China, scheduled for 7 p.m. the same day. "I'm very happy, but also really exhausted. Still, the job's not done. We still have the finals for the gold medal, and we'll do our best," she told POC Media at the venue.
China Awaits in Gold Medal Showdown
China earned its place in the final after a thrilling 18-16 victory over Thailand in the other semifinal. The Philippines will face a tough challenge against the host nation, which has strong support from the local crowd.
Men's Team Falls Short in Semifinals
Meanwhile, the Gilas Pilipinas 3x3 men's team staged a brave fightback but ultimately fell short, losing 18-20 to Southeast Asian rival Thailand in the semifinals. The Nationals battled back from a 13-19 deficit behind the efforts of Nic Cabanero in the final three minutes, but time ran out as they cut the lead to just two points. Gilas failed to score on their last two possessions, allowing Thailand to advance to the gold medal match.
"In the end, we felt like we were catching up, but we still came up short. Maybe we just need more experience," said Manday. "Maybe our defense and execution also fell short. Credit to Thailand because they really worked for it," he added, as Gilas allowed Thailand to pull away from a tight 12-12 count.
