Gilas Pilipinas Women opened their FIBA 3×3 World Cup campaign with two losses on Monday, but not without flashing the grit and resilience that have become hallmarks of the program.
Gilas, represented by Afril Bernardino, Mikka Cacho, Camille Clarin, and Kacey Dela Rosa, came out swinging against Latvia and briefly looked capable of pulling off an opening-day upset.
Gilas raced to a 5-2 lead, dictating the pace with rugged defense and a relentless inside attack. For a brief stretch, the Filipinas looked poised to author a shocker reminiscent of the Gilas men’s memorable upset of Latvia in the 2024 Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Riga. But in the unforgiving world of 3×3 basketball, momentum can vanish as quickly as it arrives.
Latvia eventually found its range from beyond the arc, turning a sluggish start into a comeback. As the Europeans heated up from long distance, the Filipinas stayed cold. Gilas continued to manufacture points in the paint, but the two-point shot—the great equalizer in 3×3—deserted them at the worst possible time.
A decisive 6-0 Latvian run flipped the contest on its head, and despite a late push, Gilas fell short, 14-11.
The narrow defeat left room for what-ifs. A couple of outside shots finding the mark could have changed the complexion of the game. So, too, might a non-call on a drive by dela Rosa, who appeared to absorb contact while attacking the basket in the closing stages.
Dela Rosa paced the Philippines with five points and three rebounds, while Cacho chipped in three markers.
If the Latvia loss stung, the second game of the day proved even more challenging.
Germany’s size, strength, and efficiency were difficult obstacles to overcome. Gilas showed flashes of its trademark defensive intensity, but the Germans consistently created space and capitalized on their physical advantages.
By the time the dust settled, Germany had secured a commanding 22-10 victory, handing the Filipinas their second defeat of the tournament.
The opening-day results leave Gilas with little margin for error, but their World Cup hopes remain alive. The Filipinas return to action on Wednesday against China and Italy in crucial Group C matchups.
With only the group winner advancing directly to the quarterfinals and the second- and third-placed teams moving on to the Round of 16, every possession, and every shot now carries extra weight.
The road has started with a stumble. Whether Gilas can turn that stumble into a surge will be decided over the next two games.
