The Gilas 3×3 men’s team got off to a bad start and never recovered in a 19-16 loss to South Korea late Saturday night, September 30, to bow out of contention in the 19th Asian Games.

The Filipinos couldn’t get anything going in the first four minutes of their quarterfinal match at the Deqing Geographic Information Park Basketball Court and fell behind 7-0.

Despite their efforts, the Filipinos failed to get their full bearing as they couldn’t muster a fitting follow up to their stirring 15-14 victory over Kazakhstan early in the day that earned them a berth in the knockout stage.

John Ray Pasaol finished with six points for the Philippines, which managed to reach the quarterfinals despite seeing action in the half-court game of the continental showpiece for the very first time.

JB Sajonia added four points, while Bismarck Lina and Justin Sanchez three each for Gilas, coached by Lester Del Rosario and deputy Patrick Fran under Philippine 3×3 program director Ronnie Magsanoc.

The scores

South Korea (19) – Lee WS 7, Kim 6, Seo 4, Lee D 2.

Philippines (16) – Pasaol 6, Sajonia 4, Lina 3, Sanchez 3.