Pelita Jaya Basketball vs Hong Kong Eastern Basketball

The Gilas Pilipinas men’s 3×3 team is set to embark on their challenging journey in the FIBA Asia Cup, starting off against formidable opponents Australia and Japan at the prestigious Singapore Sports Hub this Saturday.

The team, composed of the TNT trio of Ping Exciminiano, Gryann Mendoza, and Chester Saldua, along with sharpshooter Joseph Sedurifa from Meralco, will face the three-time champions Australia and the third-seeded Japanese in Pool C as they aim to make their mark in the final day of the main draw.

Despite being seeded sixth, Gilas has proven their mettle against elite half-court teams before, notably stunning top seed Mongolia two years ago with a clutch victory from Almond Vosotros in the quarterfinals. Though they fell short in the semifinals against New Zealand and in the battle for third place against China, the team showed resilience and determination on the court.

While none of the players from the previous squad are returning for this year’s competition, coach Mau Belen remains optimistic about Gilas’ chances to pull off another upset in the tournament.

On the other hand, Australia, led by the sharpshooter Todd Blanchfield, is determined to reclaim the championship title they lost to Mongolia last year. The Aussies dominated their way into the main draw with convincing wins over Tahiti, Kyrgyzstan, and Kazakhstan during the qualifiers.

Meanwhile, Japanese veteran Tomoya Ochiai will be instrumental in leading his team’s charge in the Asia Cup. Having been part of the Japanese squad that secured a bronze medal in the 2018 edition of the tournament, Ochiai brings experience and skill to the court.

With the top two teams from each group advancing to the knockout round on Sunday, the competition is expected to be intense as the teams battle it out for supremacy in the FIBA Asia Cup.