Gilas 3x3 mission: Bring home gold

MANILA, Philippines — Gilas Pilipinas men’s 3x3 will carry the same burning desire for redemption like its 5-on-5 counterpart in the 32nd Southeast Asian Games in Cambodia.

The Pinoy half-court specialists, rulers of the inaugural 3x3 staging in 2019 at home, had a medal downgrade to bronze in the Vietnam edition behind new champ Thailand and second-placer Vietnam.

“Sobrang naka-focus kami lahat kasi ‘yun nga, last SEA Games, hindi natin nakuha yung gold,” Gilas 3x3 ace Almond Vosotros said.

“Alam naman natin na sa SEA Games, ‘yung (Philippine) basketball, sobrang taas ng expectations, so ‘yung talagang goal natin is gold, walang iba,” he added.

Vosotros, the top gunner of the PBA 3x3, leads a crack pool that includes Samboy de Leon, Joseph Eriobu, Joseph Sedurifa, Jorey Napoles, Lervin Flores, Jeff Manday, Alfred Batino and Ange Kouame for this mission.

Gilas 3x3 is also determined to bounce back from a missed quarterfinal bid in the recent FIBA 3x3 Asia Cup in Singapore. In the previous Continental meet, Vosotros and Co. finished a high fourth in a campaign highlighted by a 21-20 upset of highly-touted Mongolia in the Last-8.

The Lester del Rosario-coached team kicks off its quest on Saturday with a triple bill against Pool A opponents Laos, Vietnam and Indonesia.

Its women’s 3x3 counterparts carry a similar bring-back-the-gold objective after placing fourth last time. The Filipinas battle 2021 runner-up Vietnam, Laos and defending champion Thailand in Pool A preliminaries on the same day.

But the real battle will be in men’s 5x5 where the Philippines is hell-bent on regaining the precious gold.