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| Afril Bernardino was pumped up after Gilas sent FIBA 3x3 World Cup silver medalist Mongolia home from the Asia Cup. SBP |
MANILA--Gilas Pilipinas 3x3 Women delivered the biggest upset in the FIBA 3x3 Asia Cup, sending powerhouse Mongolia home with a 15-12 win in their quarterfinal duel on Sunday in Singapore.
Gilas shocked Mongolia, which made last year's FIBA 3x3 World Cup final, by matching its grit as the game went by.
Kacey Dela Rosa powered Gilas with six points and six rebounds, while Afril Bernardino and Mikka Cacho each added four markers, and Cheska Apag had one point.
Gilas will face Japan, which overcame a huge upset attempt from Thailand for a 15-13 win, in the semifinals later Sunday.
Ariuntsetseg Bat-Erdene and Khulan Onolbaatar each scored five points, with the former grabbing 10 rebounds too for Mongolia, while Nandinkhusel Nyamjav and Narangoo Erdenebayan each tallied one marker.
Meanwhile, Jerrick Ahanmisi could not duplicate his heroics against Chinese Taipei as his efforts to give the men's team the win versus South Korea were not enough, letting their rival escape with an 18-15 win.
South Korea, made up of its under-23 team, surged to a 4-0 lead to start the contest, but Gilas fought back and even tied the game at 7-all.
Gilas, though, could not capitalize on the Koreans getting called for fouls as the latter once again built a four-point cushion late in the game.
Ahanmisi tried to will Gilas back in it, but they could not complete the comeback, even as he committed a crucial turnover that led to Lee Ju-Yeong's dagger layup.
Lee Dong-Geun led South Korea, which will face China next in the semifinals, with eight points, while Ju-Yeong added five, Ko Ming-Yu chipped in four, and Kim Seung-Woo put up one.
Ahanmisi led Gilas, which still overachieved by making the quarterfinals despite undergoing the qualifying pool, with eight markers, while Chris Koon and Sean Alter added three each, and Ralph Cu struggled with only one.
