Reporting note: this article draws on tiebreakertimes.com.ph; LodiScore provides the summary and editorial framing.
Collegiate Standouts Take on Dual Roles for National 3x3 Duty
Transitioning between collegiate five-on-five tournaments and international three-a-side half-court basketball presents notable scheduling and conditioning challenges. For De La Salle University forward Luis Pablo and Far Eastern University standout Amyah Espanol, taking on that exact balancing act represents a critical milestone as they prepare to represent the Philippines at the upcoming 2026 Asian Games in Japan.
Speaking during the UAAP Season 89 press conference at Novotel Manila, both student-athletes confirmed their participation in the national 3x3 delegation while reaffirming their commitment to their respective collegiate programs.
Rosters and Preliminary Pools for Gilas 3x3 in Japan
The Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) has assembled collegiate-based rosters across both divisions for the continental multi-sport event:
- Men's 3x3 Roster: Luis Pablo (DLSU), Doy Dungo (DLSU), Koji Buenaflor (UST), and Jhuniel Dela Rama (San Beda).
- Men's Group: The Philippines has been drawn into a preliminary pool featuring Mongolia, Kazakhstan, and Sri Lanka.
- Women's 3x3 Roster: Amyah Espanol (FEU), Victoria Pasilang (FEU), Kacey Dela Rosa (Ateneo de Manila University), and Kennan Ka (University of the Philippines).
- Women's Group: The Filipinas are pooled alongside Mongolia, Malaysia, and Macau.
Navigating Collegiate and National Schedules
For Pablo, who currently ranks as the eighth-ranked men’s 3x3 player in the country, integrating national duties alongside school and collegiate practices requires clear communication and support from his university.
“La Salle was really happy and supportive that me and my teammate, my brother Doy, will play for 3x3,” Pablo stated. “Obviously, it’s a bit challenging balancing the trainings with La Salle and the national team, but it’s also a challenge for us to balance our school duties and national duties. We are very grateful for this experience, so anytime this opportunity is given, we will take it.”
Pablo previously helped lead the Philippines to a silver-medal finish at the FIBA 3x3 Youth Nations League Asia SEA Conference last August.
Espanol’s Rapid Rise in the National Three-a-Side Setup
Espanol, now ranked 13th among women’s 3x3 players domestically, has quickly cemented herself as a fixture in the national program since arriving from overseas two years ago to suit up for the FEU Lady Tamaraws.
Her performance at the FIBA 3x3 Nations League Asia SEA Conference proved pivotal, highlighted by a late scoring run in the Stop 6 final that punched the Philippines’ ticket to the FIBA 3x3 Under-23 World Cup in Wuhan, China.
“I never thought it would happen this quickly,” Espanol remarked. “I’m only 21, and I’ve only been here for two years. It was always my dream to play for the national team—that was the point in moving here—but I didn’t know it would happen so fast. I’m really grateful for the opportunity to show what I have so far.”
What Lies Ahead
Both the men’s and women’s squads face competitive opening pools at the Asian Games, particularly with Mongolia featured as a heavyweight opponent across both draws. The upcoming continental campaign will serve as a key test of depth for the Philippines' youth and collegiate 3x3 pipeline while evaluating how effectively student-athletes can maintain peak performance across overlapping schedules.
