Gilas Pilipinas Girls finally nailed one over China, pulling off a tight 14-11 win to pocket the bronze medal in the 2019 FIBA 3×3 Under-18 Asia Cup on Saturday afternoon at the King Henry VIII Gym in Cyberjaya, Malaysia.
Gilas had lost to China in their previous two meetings but finally solved the puzzle in their third meeting and sealed the country’s best finish in the history of the youth continental meet in the girls division.
Gilas Girls bowed to China in the quarterfinal of the World Cup, 12-21, and also lost during the pool play last Thursday, 14-16.
The series of misfortunes at the hands of China finally ended behind the solid plays of Angelica Surada and Cristine Cayabyab, who powered Gilas by firing five points each.
Camille Clarin added three markers.
Defense did it for Gilas Pilipinas as it held China’s top gun Mao Zhang to only one point after scoring nine in their pool play meeting.
Xinaglin Wu topped China with five points.
Surada was clutch for Gilas Pilipinas as she dropped two free throws that handed Gilas a 14-11 lead with only 26 seconds left.
Gilas then forced Wu to take a difficult shot in the next play as time ran out.
Photo credit: FIBA.COM
