While jumping between 3×3 and 5-on-5 basketball on a daily basis could be challenging, De La Salle University’s Luis Pablo and Far Eastern University’s Amyah Espanol could not be more grateful to be part of the Philippine delegation to the upcoming 2026 Asian Games in Japan.

Pablo will team up with fellow Green Archer Doy Dungo, UST Growling Tiger Koji Buenaflor, and Biñan’s Nic Cabañero in the men’s 3×3 tournament, where the Philippines was grouped with Mongolia, Kazakhstan, and Sri Lanka.

Meanwhile, Espanol is expected to join forces with Ateneo de Manila University’s Kacey Dela Rosa, University of the Philippines’ Kennan Ka, and FEU teammate Victoria Pasilang in the women’s division, where the Filipinas were pooled with Mongolia, Malaysia, and Macau.

(C) UAAP Media Team

“I’m really grateful that I get to play in the Asian Games coming up. It will be really nice to get some more 3×3 experience from the last Nations League. It will be good coming into the UAAP season, playing with all the great player,” said Espanol on Tuesday during the UAAP Season 89 press conference at the Novotel Manila.

“Syempre super grateful and blessed ako to be able to play for the national team and represent our country. Super grateful even though sabay siya sa UAAP I’m still excited and motivated to play,” echoed Pablo, the eighth-ranked men’s 3×3 player in the country.

For Pablo, answering the call of national duty is something he will never turn down.

He also represented the Philippines last August in the FIBA 3×3 Youth Nations League Asia SEA Conference, where the team placed second.

(C) UAAP Media Team

“La Salle was really happy and supportive that me and my teammate, my brother Doy will play for 3×3. Obviously, it’s a bit challenging balancing the trainings with La Salle and the national team but it’s also a challenge for us to balance yung school duties namin and national duties namin,” said Pablo.

“Sobrang grateful kami sa experience na ito so any given time na ibigay yung opportunity na ito, we will take it all the time.”

Meanwhile, Espanol continued to soak in the career growth she has experienced in just two years in the Philippines.

After moving to the Philippines to play for FEU in the UAAP just last year, the 13th-ranked women’s 3×3 player in the country has already become a vital piece of the national team’s three-a-side program.

Her late scoring burst in the Stop 6 final of the FIBA 3×3 Nations League Asia SEA Conference last August helped the Philippines secure a spot in the FIBA 3×3 Under-23 World Cup in Wuhan, China, this month.

“I never thought it would happen this quickly. I’m only 21, I’m only here for two years now. It was always my dream to play for the national team, that was the point in moving here, but I didn’t know it would happen so fast. I’m really grateful for the opportunity to show what I have so far,” said the Lady Tamaraw.

The post Luis Pablo, Amyah Espanol savor rise from UAAP to Gilas 3×3 appeared first on Tiebreaker Times.

Gilas Pilipinas 3×3 Under-23 scored a double victory at the Asia SEA Conference-Stop 3 of the 2026 FIBA 3×3 Nations League on Wednesday.

The Philippines topped both divisions, with Gilas Women continuing to lead the standings while Gilas Men trimmed New Zealand’s advantage heading into the one-day break at Hextar World, Empire City in Petaling Jaya, Malaysia.

In the finals, Gilas Women defeated Chinese Taipei, 17-14, while Doy Dungo nailed the game-winning deuce to lift Gilas Men past New Zealand, 21-19, with 8:32 remaining.

With their second stop title, Gilas Women extended their lead over Chinese Taipei to 260-230. Meanwhile, Gilas Men cut New Zealand’s lead to 280-250.

In the women’s final, Amyah Espanol powered the Philippines’ breakaway, scoring five of Gilas’ final six points to secure the victory.

Espanol finished with six points, while Victoria Pasilang and Jam Meniano added five and four, respectively.

The men’s final, meanwhile, was a thriller that featured several ties.

Dungo, who was part of La Salle’s UAAP 3×3 championship team, knocked down the game-winner with 1:28 remaining to hand New Zealand its first loss of the conference.

Luis Pablo led the way with eight points, while Dungo added seven and Andrew Bongo chipped in six.

Also part of the Gilas squads for the leg were Rhyle Melencio and Kennan Ka in the men’s and women’s teams, respectively.

Gilas Women cruised into the final after routing Thailand, 21-9, before escaping with a 17-16 win over New Zealand.

Pasilang scored seven points against Thailand, while Ka led the way against New Zealand with six.

Gilas Men, meanwhile, dominated the group phase, beating Vietnam, 21-9, and Chinese Taipei, 21-13.

Stop 4 on Friday will see both Gilas Men and Gilas Women grouped with Vietnam and Malaysia in the preliminary round.

The post Gilas Women retain lead, Men trim New Zealand advantage in 3×3 NL-Stop 3 appeared first on Tiebreaker Times.

Gilas Pilipinas Men U23 fell to New Zealand, 21-15, in the Stop 2 Final of the 2026 FIBA 3×3 Nations League – Asia SEA Conference on Tuesday at Hextar World, Empire City in Petaling Jaya, Malaysia.

The Kiwis, who also topped Stop 1, imposed their physicality on the Filipinos in the finale.

With the Philippines trailing 8-9, Chris Martin and Te Tuhi Lewis broke the game wide open with back-to-back deuces.

Wello Lingoling and Luis Pablo managed to cut the deficit to 17-15 with 2:15 remaining, but fouls became a problem for Gilas.

The Philippines committed its 10th foul with 1:29 remaining, resulting in two free throws plus possession for New Zealand.

Lewis knocked down both free throws to put New Zealand at match point before Zion Anderson clinched the win 19 seconds later.

Still, it was an important stop for Gilas Men as the Philippines tied Malaysia for second place in the standings with 150 points, still 50 points behind New Zealand.

Pablo, the reigning UAAP 3×3 MVP, led Gilas Men with six points, while Doy Dungo added five.

Martin paced New Zealand with 11 points.

Gilas Men defeated Thailand, 20-11, before escaping with a 21-19 win over Chinese Taipei to advance to the final.

Pablo scored 19 points in total during the group phase, while Tuano knocked down the game-winner against Chinese Taipei with 1:05 remaining.

Gilas Women, composed of Kennan Ka, Amyah Espanol, Jam Meniano, and Marielle Vingno for the stop, meanwhile, failed to advance to the final after splitting their group-phase assignments.

The Philippines defeated Vietnam, 18-13, before falling to New Zealand, 21-16.

Espanol scored nine points against Vietnam and seven against New Zealand.

Gilas Women continue to lead the conference with 160 points, but Chinese Taipei, New Zealand, and Thailand are just 10 points behind.

For Stop 3 on Wednesday, Gilas Men are grouped with Vietnam and Chinese Taipei, while the women’s team will face Thailand and New Zealand.

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