Gilas 3x3 belles shock Italians

MANILA, Philippines — Gilas Pilipinas women won’t leave the FIBA 3x3 World Cup empty-handed.

The world No. 17 Philippines stunned No. 11 Italy, 17-13, late Wednesday night for a graceful exit in its first World Cup appearance in eight years.

It’s the first-ever win for Gilas in FIBA 3x3 World Cup history after going 0-3 in the 2018 edition in Bocaue, Bulacan.

Camille Clarin led the way with 8 points, with Afril Bernardino adding 4, Mikka Cacho 3, and Kacey dela Rosa 2 in the upset of the European powerhouse.

The win came after Pool C losses to Latvia, 14-11, Germany, 22-10, and China, 20-12.

Gilas earned its World Cup spot by beating Singapore, 21-10, in the qualifiers last April. The team fell to Lithuania, 21-16, in the semis but secured the third and final World Cup ticket.

Meanwhile in 5x5 action, the Gilas U18 girls are on track to sweep the SEABA Qualifiers in Bacolod City and return to the FIBA U18 Women’s Asia Cup.

Gilas routed Singapore, 83-53, and Vietnam, 93-42. The Gilas girls’ last two assignments are Thailand and Indonesia.

Gilas won Division B last year to earn promotion to Division A.

The Gilas U18 boys, under new coach Juno Sauler, are in training for their own SEABA qualifiers on June 10-14 in Krabi, Thailand.