MANILA – Gilas Pilipinas 3×3 team exits the FIBA 3×3 Olympic Qualifying Tournament winless after losing its last two matches on Friday night at the Hauptplatz in Graz, Austria.
Already fighting for its tournament life entering Friday’s matches, the national 3×3 basketball team was decimated with Moala Tautuaa suffering an injury in training on Thursday.
The Gilas Pilipinas trio of Jaymar Perez, Joshua Munzon, and Leonard Santillan opened the evening with a 22-11 defeat at the hands of the Dominican Republic crew.
The much taller Dominican Republic imposed its presence immediately behind Bryant Priatini and Henry Valdez for a 10-3 lead before stretching it to 14-5 with under four minutes left.
However, Munzon unloaded five straight points to pull the Gilas Pilipinas to within 10-14, but conversions from Valdez and Cesar Reyes sealed the victory for the Dominican Republic.
Piantini led the Dominican Republic with eight points, while Valdez added seven markers and eight boards. Munzon once again paced the Gilas Pilipinas with eight points.
Meanwhile, the national men’s 3×3 basketball team fell short on their final game of Pool C after bowing down to France, 15-14, in a game marred by missed shots from both sides.
Gilas Pilipinas got the first basket of the match on a layup by Perez. France then surged to a 12-5 lead behind conversions from Dominique Gentil, Charly Pontens, and Antoine Eito.
The Philippines showed some life late on consecutive hits from Perez, Munzon, and Santillan to come to within 12-14.
Raphael Wilson extended France’s advantage to 15-12 with an inside hit before Munzon drilled a long shot at the buzzer for a one-point loss.
Gentil top-scored with five points, while Pontens and Eito have four markers apiece for France.
Munzon spearheaded Gilas Pilipinas with seven points, while Perez chipped in five.
The Ronnie Magsanoc-mentored Gilas Pilipinas 3×3 men’s basketball team has suffered 21-12 defeat to Qatar and 21-11 manhandling from Slovenia at the start of the qualifier on Wednesday./PN
