Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
BOCAUE, Bulacan—Perlas Pilipinas was primed for an upset win against Spain in the group stage of the women’s Fiba 3×3 World Cup, until one whistle set everything asunder for the Filipinos.
The Philippines were going tit-for-tat with the Spaniards early in the game with Janine Pontejos hitting long bombs with reckless abandon to put Perlas up, 11-10.
That was until Jack Animam got called for a technical foul that allowed Paula Palomares to tie the game at 11 and jumpstart Spain’s crushing 8-1 run.
“That was one costly foul,” said Animam in Filipino Sunday at Philippine Arena. “Of course, there were the useless fouls that we should never commit. I’ll just have to work more on my defense, honest defense that when possible I won’t be called with a foul.”
Perlas went on to lose, 21-17, as it dropped to a 0-3 record in Pool D and bow out of the tournament.
The Philippines accumulated a total of nine fouls and was already in the penalty with 6:10 left in the game.
“You gave them one free throw plus ball possession it was big in this kind of tournament especially in a 3×3 format,” said Perlas head coach Patrick Aquino in Filipino. “The penalty itself is really heavy because you award two free throws instead of just one.”
After Animam’s technical foul, Spain fired on all cylinders from the field and was also on point from the free throw line.
Vega Gimeno Martinez forced her way to the basket for Spain’s 16-12 lead then, Nuria Martinez Prat made two free throws for the 18-12 margin.
Martinez then, made the assist to Palomares for the game-ending layup.