Reporting note: this article draws on tiebreakertimes.com.ph; LodiScore provides the summary and editorial framing.
Gilas Pilipinas 3x3 delivered an emphatic opening statement at the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games on Monday, pulling off a stunning 19-12 upset over continental powerhouse Mongolia before dismantling Sri Lanka 21-12 at the Kinjo Futo Station Square in Nagoya, Japan.
The pristine 2-0 sweep on Day 1 vaulted the Philippines to the top of Pool A and officially locked in a spot in the play-in round, while keeping the squad firmly in the hunt for an outright quarterfinal berth.
Stunning Upset: How Gilas Took Down Mongolia
Entering the opener as clear underdogs against a formidable Mongolian program, the Filipinos refused to follow the expected script. After trailing by a single point in the opening minutes, Gilas unleashed a devastating 9-1 surge to seize a commanding 14-7 advantage.
Nic Cabañero orchestrated the Philippine offense, tallying a team-high seven points and putting the final exclamation mark on the 19-12 result with a decisive driving layup. Koji Buenaflor provided critical secondary scoring with six points, while Manuel Pablo anchored the glass with seven rebounds to go along with three points. David Dungo also added three points to keep the Mongolian defense off-balance throughout the physical contest.
Mongolia quickly showed why they are highly regarded by rebounding later in the day with a 13-8 victory over Kazakhstan, underlining just how massive the Filipinos' opening result truly was.
Closing Out Day 1: Gilas Hits 21 Against Sri Lanka
With momentum squarely on their side, the Philippines returned to the half-court later in the afternoon to handle business against Sri Lanka in a high-octane 21-12 finish.
Cabañero remained in complete rhythm, pouring in eight points and grabbing six boards as Gilas hit the 21-point target before the 10-minute regulation clock expired. Buenaflor and Luis Pablo matched each other with six points apiece, while playmaker Dungo controlled the tempo with five assists and a point.
Pool A Standings and Next Fixtures
Following the opening day of action, Gilas Pilipinas sits in sole possession of first place in Pool A at 2-0. Kazakhstan (1-1) sits level with Mongolia (1-1), having edged Sri Lanka 17-15 earlier in the day.
The Philippines will take a scheduled rest day on Tuesday before returning to action on Wednesday for their final Pool A assignment against Kazakhstan, where a victory would secure direct progression to the Asian Games quarterfinals.
