Reporting note: this article draws on tiebreakertimes.com.ph; LodiScore provides the summary and editorial framing.
In true Philippine basketball fashion—where nothing is ever straightforward and heart rates are meant to be tested—Gilas Pilipinas 3x3 survived a furious late rally to edge Chinese Taipei, 21-19, on Thursday at Kinjo Futo Station Square, securing a semifinal berth at the 20th Asian Games.
Luis Pablo Seals the Deal in the Clutch
With the contest knotted at 19-all and tension thick enough to slice, Luis Pablo put his reigning UAAP 3x3 MVP credentials on full display. The forward grabbed an offensive rebound off his own miss and converted a putback to hand the Philippines match point with just 42.6 seconds remaining.
Following a crucial defensive stop on the ensuing Chinese Taipei possession, Pablo took matters into his own hands again, driving aggressively through the lane to drop a contested bucket over Chang Chunsheng and trigger wild celebrations on the Philippine bench.
How Gilas Built and Lost the Lead
The Filipinos initially appeared poised for a routine afternoon, racing to an early 12-6 cushion behind the physical interior presence of Koji Buenaflor. However, Chinese Taipei answered with a relentless perimeter assault led by Yeh Weichieh, whose hot shooting fueled an 8-2 run that tied the game at 14-all.
Chinese Taipei briefly seized an 18-17 advantage, putting the Philippines under severe pressure before Doy Dungo delivered a timely strike. Dungo buried a clutch two-pointer over Yeh with 1:11 left on the clock. While Yeh responded by converting a free throw to knot the game at 19-19, it only set the stage for Pablo’s final heroics.
Standout Performers and Box Score
Nic Cabanero spearheaded the scoring for Gilas with a team-high eight points, maintaining offensive rhythm throughout the contest. Pablo contributed six points, none bigger than the final two, while Dungo added five. Buenaflor anchored the glass in dominant fashion, hauling down 10 rebounds alongside his two points.
Yeh was the standout performer for Chinese Taipei, practically carrying their offense with a game-high 10 points, including three makes from beyond the arc.
What's Next for Gilas 3x3
With this quarterfinal triumph in the books, Gilas Men move directly into medal contention and will face longtime continental rivals South Korea in the semifinals.
