3x3 Basketball
Dhenver Castillo sails to silver as Gilas 3×3 teams storm into Asian Beach Games semifinals
Dhenver Castillo sailed to a silver-medal finish for Team Philippines on Tuesday in the boys’ foil windsurfing event of the 6th Asian Beach Games at Sanya Bay Haihong Square in China.
A gold medalist in the 33rd Southeast Asian Games in Thailand last year, Castillo finished with 39 net points—tied with Thailand’s Wachirawit Thonup—after a grueling 13-heat competition. However, he settled for silver after placing second in the final race.
A 14th race was ultimately scrapped due to unfavorable weather conditions in the resort city.
Castillo ended the final sail with two net points, bringing his total to 58, just behind Thonup’s 57, sealing the silver for the Mabini, Batangas native.
Competing against the continent’s best, Castillo said the medal made all the sacrifices worthwhile.
“Of course, during training, it’s really hard. You have to persevere,” Castillo said. “You really put all your heart into these competitions. My family told me to always be careful, do your best, while my coaches, they said, always stay focused.
“The competition here in China is a bit tough because it’s not just the SEA Games, but you are competing against the best in Asia,” he added.
The Philippine campaign in the resort city is backed by the Philippine Olympic Committee under President Bambol Tolentino and the Philippine Sports Commission led by Chairman Pato Gregorio.
Wang Yiguo of host nation China captured the gold with a near-flawless 12 net points.
Later in the evening, both Gilas Pilipinas 3×3 teams advanced to the semifinals at the Sanya Sports Centre Gymnasium.
(C) POC-PSC Media
The women’s team defeated Kazakhstan, 16-11, while the men’s team escaped India, 18-14.
Speed proved to be the difference for the Filipinas, who outmaneuvered a taller Kazakhstan squad that relied heavily on outside shooting.
After a two-pointer kept Kazakhstan within striking distance midway through, 11-12, the Gilas Women attacked the basket with pace and precision to seize control.
Tantoy Ferrer delivered a crucial basket with less than two minutes remaining to extend the lead to 14-11.
Mikka Cacho then sealed the win with back-to-back points.
“Iyon nga, ang sa scouting report namin, parang more on shooting outside (sila), mas malalaki sila sa amin,” Ferrer said. “So, alam naman namin na kahit maliit kami, mabilis kami.
“So, doon lang namin aming dinadaan sa mga ball screen, mga atake, kasi alam namin mabagal sila.”
(C) POC-PSC Media
On the other hand, after squandering an 11-8 advantage, Gilas Men leaned on a decisive 5-0 run in the final minute to stay in medal contention.
Jeff Manday powered inside for the game-tying basket at 14-all with 22 seconds remaining. Crucial foul situations on Aldous Torculas and Manday then opened the door for the Philippines to close out the game.
Torculas’ key free throws with 9.8 seconds left gave Gilas a 16-14 cushion before Manday’s final free throws sealed the victory.
After the game, Manday credited the team’s resilience.
“Although nga underdog kami, lumaban kami hanggang dulo. Yung nga, thankful ako sa mga teammates ko. Although nga mga young guys… Nagtatrabaho para sa bayan.” Manday said.
Team Philippines currently sits third overall with three gold, three silver, and two bronze medals in the 45-nation Asian joust.
China leads the standings with 15 gold, 11 silver, and five bronze medals, followed by Thailand with 7 gold, 5 silver, and 4 bronze.
The country’s gold medals so far came from jiu-jitsu standouts Annie Ramirez and Alexandria Luz Enriquez, as well as high jump athlete Leonard Grospe. The Games mark their return after a 10-year hiatus.
The Philippines is set to host the 2028 Asian Beach Games in Cebu.
Castillo’s silver added to the country’s medal haul that also includes silver finishes from jiu-jitsu athlete Emily Thomas and the women’s relay team of Jessica Rose Laurance, Kristina Marie Knott, Lianne Diana Pama, and Shane Poince, along with bronze medals from Laurance in the 60-meter dash and Kaila Napolis in jiu-jitsu.
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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.
The post Manila Gilas fall to Warsaw, Team USA in 3×3 Women’s Series-Manila QD appeared first on Tiebreaker Times.
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.
The post La Salle, UST complete UAAP basketball ‘golden doubles’ in 3×3 sweep appeared first on Tiebreaker Times.
Defending champion De La Salle University made quick work of erstwhile unbeaten Ateneo de Manila University, 21-14, to stretch its winning run to six straight games in the UAAP Season 88 Collegiate Men’s 3×3 Basketball Tournament on Friday at Ayala Malls Manila Bay in Parañaque.
What was expected to be a tightly contested rivalry clash between two undefeated squads instead turned into a one-sided affair, as the Green Archers needed just under eight minutes to dispatch the Blue Eagles and preserve their spotless record.
La Salle wasted no time asserting control, racing to a 9-3 lead in the opening three minutes and never looking back. Consecutive layups from Luis Pablo and a game-sealing two-pointer from Earl Abadam pushed Ateneo to its first loss of the tournament, which is supported by Wilson Philippines and Ayala Malls and sanctioned by the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas.
Pablo delivered a flawless outing, finishing with eight points on 8-of-8 shooting along with six rebounds. Reigning Most Valuable Player Doy Dungo added six points, while Abadam chipped in five.
“Obviously, it was a super fun game, especially dahil we were both undefeated and it’s always a rivalry game between La Salle and Ateneo. It was nice that we showed grit and played as a team today,” Pablo said.
“I think yung maganda sa team namin ay no matter what league, basta kami yung magkakasama, yung brotherhood naman namin kasi on and off the court yon. Whatever the bond na meron kami off the court, nagta-translate yon on the court,” he added.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
On the other hand, National University kept its semifinal hopes alive in the men’s division after outlasting University of the Philippines, 21-16. Vince Reyes led the Bulldogs with nine points and four rebounds, while Jolo Navarro and Tebol Garcia added five points each.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
Adamson University also secured its third win after edging Far Eastern University, 21-18, highlighted by Noah Pacquiao’s game-winning two-pointer to snap their two-game skid. Pacquiao finished with 11 points on five deuces, seven rebounds, and three assists.
With these results, UP, NU, and Adamson are tied for third place with identical 3-3 records.
UP holds the edge in the tiebreaker with 108 points, followed by NU with 103 and Adamson with 89.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
The return of Gelo Crisostomo—who helped the Philippines finish fourth in 3×3 Basketball at the 2026 Asian Beach Games in Sanya, China—sparked University of Santo Tomas to an 18-15 win over University of the East.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
Meanwhile, UST continued its dominant run in the women’s division, cruising past De La Salle University, 22-8, to stay unbeaten in six games.
Graduating guard Kent Pastrana posted an all-around performance of six points, five rebounds, three assists, two steals, and one block, while Fil-Australian guard Erinn McAlary led the scoring with nine points, along with four rebounds, three steals, and two assists. Coi Danganan added seven points, four rebounds, and one steal.
“Lesson learned na sa amin yung nangyari sa amin last year — masyado kami naging kampante. Kung sino yung kalaban, doon kami magfo-focus. And laruin lang namin kung ano dapat yung laro. Dapat hindi namin ibaba yung laro namin. Kung ano yung pinagumpisahan namin, tuloy-tuloy lang dapat,” Pastrana said.
In earlier games, FEU and Ateneo secured semifinal berths in the women’s division after similar wins over NU and UE, respectively.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
The Lady Tamaraws dominated the Lady Bulldogs, 21-7, with Max Dela Torre sealing the win with back-to-back two-pointers.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
Meanwhile, the Blue Eagles defeated the Lady Warriors, 21-8, behind the combined efforts of Kacey Dela Rosa and Hannah Lopez, who scored 12 combined points.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
University of the Philippines kept its semifinal hopes alive with a 20-15 upset of fourth-placed Adamson. Camille Nolasco led the way with nine points, all from three two-pointers.
The loss dropped Adamson to solo fourth with a 3-3 record, while UP joined La Salle in a 2-4 tie for fifth place.
UP holds the edge with 94 points, followed closely by La Salle with 89.
NU and UE have been eliminated from semifinal contention after finishing with identical 1-5 records.
The post Luis Pablo perfect as La Salle dismantles Ateneo in UAAP Men’s 3×3 clash appeared first on Tiebreaker Times.
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