PH goes 1-1 in Fiba 3×3 Worlds opener; Escoto injured

Members of the Philippine team in the FIBA 3×3 look at injured Russel Escoto. Photo from Fiba.com

Karl Dehesa nailed a booming two-pointer from the right wing to lift the Philippines, 21-19, over Romania in the opener, but that proved to be the lone highlight for the country in the 2016 Fiba 3×3 World Championship in Guangzhou, China.

The Filipinos then succumbed to a 21-16 defeat to Spain with Russel Escoto, a crucial piece in the country’s bid, sidelined with a shoulder injury to finish the day with a 1-1 card.

The Philippines found itself on the defensive early against Spain, falling behind, 9-4, before Mac Belo and Glenn Khobuntin willed the team back into the game.

Khobuntin even gave the country a taste of the lead at 13-12 with less than three minutes left to play, but Jose Rojas Martin heated up and nailed three straight long bombs to put the Spaniards up, 18-15.

Javier Meras Ramirez sealed the win for the European bronze medalists, canning his pair of freebies with exactly a minute remaining.

Against the 2014 European champions, Khobuntin and Belo also towed the Philippines back from a 1-6 deficit to a tied game at 9, setting up the nip-and-tuck battle which saw Dehesa strike from the right wing for the game-winner.

Spain leads Pool C with an immaculate 2-0 record, followed by the Philippines, Hungary, and Romania, who are all carrying the same 1-1 slate.

The Filipinos will next face Hungary and Poland on Friday to finish its group stage schedule.