Gilas Pilipinas 3×3 may have missed a podium finish at the 2022 Fiba 3×3 Asia Cup, but the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) said the fourth-place finish is a success given how tough the road was for the Filipinos.

“The success of Gilas in Singapore was the result of the hard work of the entire PBA 3×3 community,” the federation said in a statement on Monday.

The quartet of Almond Vosotros, Joseph Eriobu, Samboy de Leon, and Lervin Flores defied the odds and worked their way from the qualifying draw where it took down Jordan and Indonesia.

Gilas made it to the main draw where it beat host Singapore, fell to China, then bounced back to shock top seed Mongolia in the quarterfinals before losing to New Zealand in the semis and China anew in the battle for third place.

The fourth-place finish is the country’s best performance in the Fiba 3×3 Asia Cup.

Nevertheless, it was the Philippines’ best showing in the continental halfcourt tourney, besting the quarterfinal finish of the squad featuring Kevin Ferrer, Robby Celiz, Bacon Austria, and Gio Ciriacruz back in the inaugural staging in 2013.

Aside from the players, also lending a hand to the squad were coaches Lester del Rosario of Pioneer, Mau Belen of TNT, and Tony Boy Espinosa of Purefoods, as well as officials led by program director Ronnie Magsanoc and PBA 3×3 tournament director Joey Guanio.

“From the coaches and trainers who prepare the athletes to their opponents who toughen them up with good competition to the PBA and SBP staff for always making sure that the tournaments run smoothly, this victory is also yours,” the statement ended.

Preview on China vs Philippines

Gilas Pilipinas was unable to solve the puzzle that is China, falling in the bronze medal game, 20-18, on Sunday in the 2022 Fiba 3×3 Asia Cup in Singapore.

Almond Vosotros’ hot hands could not help the Philippines get over the hump even after he tied the game at 15 with a deuce in the final 2:16.

The fourth-place finish is the country’s best performance in the Fiba 3×3 Asia Cup.

Liu Zeyi and Zhao Jiaren would take over from there, pushing China up, 20-16 with 40 seconds remaining.

Still, Gilas refused to lose, with Lervin Flores nailing a deuce to inch the Philippines closer, 20-18, but Vosotros just could not find the bottom of the net as time expired.

Vosotros powered the Filipinos with eight points while Joseph Eriobu had five in the tough defeat.

Flores also got three, while Samboy de Leon had a pair as Gilas failed to avenge a 21-11 loss to the same Chinese team in Group C of the main draw.

Still, it is a solid performance for the Philippines, which worked its way from the qualifying draw where it beat Jordan and Indonesia, turned back host Singapore in the group stage, and stunned top seed Mongolia in the quarterfinals.

The Philippines last competed way back in the inaugural staging in 2013 where the quartet of Kevin Ferrer, Robby Celiz, Bacon Austria, and Gio Ciriacruz made it as far as the quarterfinals where it fell to Jordan.

Liu led China with nine points.

The Scores:

China 20 – Liu 9, Zhao Jr. 6, Lyu 4, Zhao Jy 1
Philippines 18 – Vosotros 8, Eriobu 5, Flores 3, De Leon 2.