MANILA – Almond Vosotros caught fire from downtown as Gilas Pilipinas 3×3 clinched a seat in the main draw of the FIBA 3×3 Asia Cup with a 21-15 beating of Indonesia on Thursday night at the Marina Bay Sands Event Plaza in Singapore.
Vosotros, who played for TNT Tropang Giga in the PBA 3×3 tourney, rattled five two-pointers and added a free throw in a fiery 11-5 windup to help the Philippines finish off Indonesia.
Vosotros finished the match with 11 points, Joseph Eriobu added eight markers, while Samboy de Leon and Lervin Flores combined for two points as Gilas 3×3 topped Qualifying Draw Group C via a two-game sweep to advance.
Prior to eliminating their Southeast Asian Games rival Indonesia, the Ronnie Magsanoc-mentored 3×3 crew opened the competition with a 21-19 win over Jordan behind the game-winner of Eriobu.
“We’re playing for the country so we really tried to do our best,” said Vosotros to the cheers of the Pinoy crowd in the venue. “We are just focusing on the game, taking things one game at a time.”
Eriobu carried the offensive cudgels for Gilas Pilipinas early in the game as they took a 10-8 lead but the Indonesians knotted the score at 10-all before Vosotros singlehandedly carried Team Philippines to victory.
With this result, the PBA 3×3-powered Gilas Pilipinas squad joined host Singapore and Group G topnotcher China in Pool C of the main draw that kicks off this Saturday afternoon.
Meanwhile, the Gilas Pilipinas Women were not as fortunate as the men’s team after failing to enter the women’s 3×3 main draw following a close 13-11 defeat to SEA Games rival Thailand.
Holding to a 11-10 lead following back-to-back hits by Khate Castillo and Afril Bernardino, the Philippines failed to protect the advantage as Thailand scored on an and-one sequence to take a 13-11 lead.
The national women’s 3×3 basketball team still had chances to send the game into overtime but Castillo and Camille Clarin missed their 2-point shots in the dying seconds, allowing Thailand to escape with the win./PN
