Gilas Women 3×3 fends off Maldives for 2-0 start in Asia Cup

The Gilas Pilipinas Women’s team stayed perfect through two games in the qualifying draw of the 2024 FIBA 3×3 Asia Cup after coming away with a 19-11 victory over Maldives on Wednesday, March 27, at the Singapore Sports Hub.

Unlike in their opening game, the Filipinos went off to a hot start and then fended off the tough stand of Maldives to take the top spot of the Group B in tie with fellow spotless team Kazakhstan.

Gilas executed its pick-and-roll to perfection as Mikka Cacho again led the charge for the Filipinas who built an early 6-1 lead. The Nationals erected a 12-5 advantage before Maldives showed some semblance of fight cutting the lead down to just three, 12-9.

Back-to-back baskets from Cacho, however, easily restored order as Gilas ended the game on a 7-2 finishing kick.

With the win, Gilas is now in prime position to advance to the next round although it still needs to face and win against Kazakhstan to earn a spot in the main draw Pool C where third seed Mongolia and sixth seed Malaysia await.

Cacho sustained her hot start to the tournament finishing with eight points while Kaye Pingol also had her best game in the contest with eight points. Camille Clarin added two points while Jhazmin Joson, after torching the net with four deuces in the first game, cooled down with only one point to show.

— Reynald I. Magallon