THANKS to the clutch effort of gunner Almond Vosotros, the Gilas Pilipinas 3×3 men squad kept alive its bid to rule the FIBA Asia Cup yesterday.
The Filipino cagers stunned world No. 6 Mongolia, scoring a nail-biting 21-20 win to advance to the semifinals of the 3×3 Asia Cup at the Marina Bay Sands Event Plaza in Singapore.
Short in size but not in heart, Vosotros’ of PBA 3×3 Third Conference champion TNT, boomed in a dagger of a two-pointer that turned out to be the game-winner in the final 1:34.
Vosotros fired eight points for the team, while Samboy de Leon chipped in seven markers.
Joseph Eriobu and Lervin Flores combined for six points as Gilas bounced back from an 11-21 loss to China in the main draw last Saturday.
The nationals battled the winner of the match pitting Japan and New Zealand in the semis at press time last night.
Vosotros said he is always ready to shoot if the defenders would leave him open.
“I just shot it. Every time I’m open, I shoot it,” Vosotros said. “We didn’t give up and we gave our best.”
Anand Ariunbold led the Mongolians with eight points.
The Gilas 3×3 women quartet failed in its bid to reach the main draw after it absorbed an 11-13 defeat to Thailand last Thursday.
Meanwhile, coach Chot Reyes is opting to look at the bigger picture when Gilas Pilipinas tries to prove its worth in the FIBA Asia Cup this week in Indonesia.
Reyes, officially handed the Gilas reins anew by the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas last Friday, said the nationals are out to gain the needed experience and improvement in the continental tilt as part of their preparations for the FIBA World Cup next year.
“(We have) cautious optimism and managed expectations going into the Asia Cup. This is part of the continuing development and inculturation towards August 2023,” Reyes told Malaya-Business Insight yesterday.
“We will try our best to finish in the top 8 and improve our ranking in Asia, but the more important thing is progress,” he added.
Reyes tapped holdovers from the squad that saw action in the third window of the World Cup Asian qualifiers, namely, Kiefer Ravena, Carl Tamayo, Geo Chiu, Kevin Quiambao, SJ Belangel, RJ Abarrientos, William Navarro, and Francis Lopez.
Reinforcing the 11-man line-up are Thirdy Ravena, Bobby Ray Parks Jr., and TNT center JP Erram.
The team left for Indonesia yesterday. — Michael Jugado
