The under-21 squads of Gilas Pilipinas 3×3 will aim to secure outright berths in the 2026 FIBA 3×3 Under-23 World Cup as they begin their Nations League campaigns on Monday.

The Philippines is competing in the Asia-2 conference of the six-stop tournament, which runs from July 13 to 19 at Hextar World Empire City in Petaling Jaya, Malaysia.

The Gilas Boys lineup is composed of FEU’s Cabs Cabonilas and Jedric Daa, Adamson’s Earl Medina, UST’s Koji Buenaflor, and San Beda’s Jhuniel Dela Rama.

Meanwhile, the Gilas Girls will be led by the returning Kristan Yumul of Cal State San Marcos, who is back on national team duty for the first time in two years.

She will be joined by FEU’s Elaine Patio, Ateneo’s Alyssa Rodriguez, NU’s Marga Villanueva, and Adamson’s Nadine Muñoz.

Both Philippine squads are grouped with New Zealand, Japan, Singapore, Malaysia, and Belarus in the Asia-2 conference.

For the opening stop on Monday, the Gilas Girls will face Japan and Belarus, while the Gilas Boys will take on New Zealand and Malaysia.

At the end of the six stops, the overall top team will earn an outright berth in the 2026 FIBA 3×3 Under-23 World Cup, which will be held from September 15 to 19 in Wuhan, China.

The Nations League serves as the first of two qualification pathways to the World Cup, with the Under-23 division set to be held next month, offering another opportunity for teams to qualify.

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Manila Gilas bowed out of the qualifying draw of the 2026 FIBA 3×3 Women’s Series Manila on Thursday at the SM Mall of Asia Music Hall.

The Philippine side, composed of NU standouts Afril Bernardino, Kaye Pingol, Ann Pingol, and Sam Harada, suffered defeats to Warsaw, 14-9, and Team USA, 21-12.

Team USA advanced to the main draw’s Pool C after sweeping the qualifying draw with a 2-0 record, joining Gilas Women and Germany.

(C) FIBA 3×3

Bernardino finished with four points while Kaye added three against Warsaw, but their efforts were not enough to overcome the European squad’s imposing size advantage.

Meanwhile, Bernardino and Manila Gilas showed improvement against Team USA, but the trio of Joyce Edwards, Milaysia Fulwiley, and Mikaylah Williams proved too skilled as the Americans gradually pulled away.

“Siguro, nagkaroon kami ng confidence dahil nakalaban namin sila. Napaka-big deal na nito at once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” said Kaye.

Still, the tournament marked a dream come true for the Pingol sisters.

(C) FIBA 3×3

“Sobrang excited na finally, yung Women’s Series nandito na sa ‘tin at yun nga, masaya din na naging teammates kami ni Ann,” said Kaye.

“Dream come true. Matagal na kasi namin hinihintay na magkasama maglaro. Grateful for the opportunity,” added Ann.

In the other qualifying draw, Mongolia advanced to Pool D after eliminating Singapore and Indonesia.

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De La Salle University and University of Santo Tomas completed “golden doubles” in UAAP Season 88, sweeping the collegiate men’s and women’s 3×3 basketball competitions, respectively, Sunday at Ayala Malls Manila Bay.

The Green Archers leaned on Luis Pablo to outlast the Ateneo de Manila University Blue Eagles, 21-18, in the men’s division, keeping the crown in Taft for a fourth straight season and extending their winning streak in the sport to 13 games.

On the other side, the Growling Tigresses capped a dominant run with a 21-11 victory over the Far Eastern University Lady Tamaraws in the women’s division.

Both the Green Archers and the Growling Tigresses also captured the 5-on-5 titles last December.

The first-ever 3×3 rivalry final was a hard-fought affair, with Ateneo keeping in step with La Salle throughout. It was Pablo— the lone addition from last year’s championship squad—who took charge in the endgame to lift the Archers.

Clinging to a 16-15 lead, Pablo knocked down two free throws and a midrange jumper to give La Salle a four-point cushion. Shaun Tuano answered with a deuce to keep Ateneo alive, but Pablo pushed La Salle to match point with 1:01 remaining.

After another Tuano basket, Pablo attacked the lane and finished a soaring layup for the gold-clinching basket with 36.1 seconds left.

“All Glory to God, sobrang thankful kami kasi matagal na naming pinagpipray ito and talagang nagprepare kami para dito. Sobrang grateful lang and ang sarap sa feeling na nag pay off yung pinaghirapan namin,” said Pablo, who was adjudged tournament MVP after tallying 13 points on 9-of-11 shooting along with nine rebounds in the final.

Earl Abadam and Jcee Macalalag added five and three points, respectively, for La Salle.

Tuano led the Blue Eagles—who improved to a runner-up finish after placing last a year ago—with eight points.

Behind Pablo, La Salle defeated National University, 21-14, in the semifinals, while Ateneo turned to Tuano to oust Adamson University, 21-13, in the other Final Four pairing.

Paul Francisco paced the Bulldogs with eight points in their 17-13 win over the Soaring Falcons to secure the bronze medal.

(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team

Meanwhile, Coi Danganan was unstoppable in the women’s final, pouring in nine points to power UST to its third women’s 3×3 title in four years.

Kent Pastrana and Brigette Santos chipped in five points apiece as the Tigresses completed a nine-game sweep of the tournament, winning by an average margin of 10.89 points per game.

It was a fitting ending to Pastrana’s collegiate career by securing the tournament MVP honors.

“Mixed emotions siya sobrang saya ko at the same time nalulungkot ako kasi iiwanan ko na yung team ko, yung minamahal ko na UST,” said Pastrana, who ends her UAAP career with four championships and two 3×3 MVP awards.

“Thank you sa mga teammates ko dahil sa puso nila sa laro. Sa coaches, supporters thank you sa lahat ng sumusuporta sa amin nakuha namin yung panalong ito.”

Victoria Pasilang led FEU with six points, while tournament leading scorer Amyah Espanol was held without a field goal and finished with just two points.

The Tigresses dominated Adamson, 21-10, in the semifinals, while the Lady Tamaraws dethroned defending champions Ateneo, 21-16, in the other semifinal.

Last season’s MVP Kacey Dela Rosa erupted for 12 points in the bronze medal match, leading Ateneo to a 16-14 victory over Adamson.

FEU’s Kirby Mongcopa was named the men’s Rookie of the Year, while UE’s Sybil Oñate took home the women’s Rookie of the Year honors.

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