The Gilas Pilipinas Women's team in the gold medal match of the 3x3 competition in the 6th Asian Beach Games, April 29, 2026 at the Sanya Sports Centre Gymnasium in Sanya, China. POC Media
MANILA -- The Gilas Pilipinas Women fell short of a gold medal in the 3x3 basketball tournament in the Asian Beach Games, after a 13-21 defeat to host China in the final on Wednesday at the Sanya Sports Centre Gymnasium.
The Gilas Women were on the back foot almost immediately against the towering China team, which was led by Hengyu Yang and Fengyi Sun.
The Philippines fell behind 5-11 early before Mikka Cacho and Kaye Pingol willed them back to contention.
Utilizing their speed, Cacho and Pingol attacked the basket with Tantoy Ferrer and Gabi Bade also poking holes in the China defense which kept Gilas looking for an outside shot that just didn’t come.
Bade made things interesting with a converted and-one opportunity that got the Philippines within four, 12-16, with 3:34 ticks remaining.
China proved too much to overcome, however.
READ: Gilas Women advance to gold medal game in 3x3 hoops
"Medyo we ran out of gas nung dulo. Pero I'm very happy with our performance. We really gave them a battle in the last game. Obviously, the height difference was a big factor," said Gilas women 3x3 head coach Anton Altamirano after the match.
"Pero I think if we had enough rest, siguro medyo panggap na rin sila. Pero I think if we could probably give us another game against them, I think we'll have a different result."
Cacho finished with five points while Ferrer added four markers. Pingol and Bade added two points each.
The women’s silver softened the blow of a missed podium for the men’s team who also fell against China with an identical score.
It was also the best finish for the Gilas women who last finished on the podium in 2012 when they clinched the bronze.
MEN FINISH OUT OF PODIUM
Jeff Manday of the Gilas Pilipinas Men's team in action against China in the bronze medal match of the 3x3 competition in the 6th Asian Beach Games, April 29, 2026 at the Sanya Sports Centre Gymnasium in Sanya, China. POC Media
The Gilas Men fell to host China, 13-21, in the bronze medal match.
It was a rematch of their opening assignment, where the Filipinos earlier defeated the Chinese side, but they could not duplicate that result with a medal on the line.
The team of Jeff Manday, Nic Cabanero, Gelo Crisostomo, and Aldous Torculas showed promise throughout the tournament after nearly sweeping the group stage.
Gilas suffered a 14-21 defeat to Iran in the preliminaries before absorbing another setback to Thailand in semifinals, 18-20.
China seized control midway through the contest, breaking away for an 11-6 advantage and never looking back on the way to securing the bronze medal.