South Korea ended the campaign of Gilas Pilipinas Men in the FIBA 3×3 Asia Cup after securing an 18-15 victory in their knockout clash on Sunday at the OCBC Arena in Singapore. The defeat eliminated the Philippines from semifinal contention.

South Korea sets early control

The Koreans immediately imposed their rhythm, opening with a 3-0 run behind Donggeun Lee. Gilas Pilipinas Men were forced into chase mode early and spent most of the game trying to recover from the slow start.

Despite multiple attempts to swing momentum, the Philippines struggled to convert key stops into scoring runs. South Korea’s structure and patience kept them in control through crucial stretches.

Gilas rallies fall short in tight finish

Jerrick Ahanmisi led Gilas Pilipinas Men with eight points, carrying most of the offensive load throughout the game. Chris Koon and Sean Alter added three points each, while Ralph Cu contributed one.

Even with late pushes to close the gap, Gilas could not break through South Korea’s composed defense in the final minutes. The Koreans held firm to complete the win.

Donggeun Lee finished with eight points and six rebounds to lead South Korea, guiding a disciplined U23 squad that controlled tempo and execution when it mattered most.

Both teams advanced through the qualifiers before reaching the main draw, but South Korea’s win secured its first semifinal appearance since the 2022 edition. Gilas Pilipinas Men were unable to replicate their previous deep run in the tournament.