Gilas Pilipinas’ women’s 3×3 team is one win away from turning an Asian Games semifinal into something considerably shinier, after brushing aside Thailand, 13-8, on Friday to book a place in the gold-medal match.
The Filipinas will face host Japan, which dispatched South Korea, 19-8, in the other semifinal. The final later Friday carries an extra wrinkle. With defending champion China already dethroned earlier in the tournament, the winner will leave with a first Asian Games 3×3 crown.
Against Thailand, Maria Pasilang was the smallest player on the floor but hardly an insignificant presence. She led Gilas in both scoring and rebounding, producing five points and seven boards in a game where possessions mattered as much as points.
Kacey dela Rosa added four points and three rebounds, while Kennan Ka scored three points and collected a rebound. Amyah Espanol chipped in one point but made her presence felt on the glass with five rebounds.
Gilas shot 35 percent from the field, making 9 of 26 attempts, while Thailand managed just 24 percent on 7 of 29. The Filipinas were particularly efficient from the free-throw line, converting three of four attempts, compared with Thailand’s two-point output from the stripe.
The numbers also tell a story about the game’s physicality. Gilas pulled down 20 rebounds to Thailand’s 17, while committing only three team fouls against Thailand’s seven.
Meanwhile, the Gilas men’s squad was relegated to the bronze-medal match after South Korea imposed its will in a one-sided 21-9 defeat. The loss came a day after the Filipinos had produced a gritty victory over defending champion Chinese Taipei. Gilas now awaits the result of the Iran-Qatar match to determine its bronze-medal opponent.
