Gilas barges into Asian Games basketball 3×3 quarterfinal

Gilas Pilipinas Men 3×3 at the Asian Games.–SBP PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines–Gilas Pilipinas secured a quarterfinal berth after withstanding Kazakhstan, 15-14, to secure a quarterfinal berth in the 19th Asian Games’ 3×3 men’s caging Saturday afternoon.

The Philippines found itself in a nip-and-tuck affair as the Kazakhs—No. 2 finishers in Pool D—refused to budge for most of the contest at Deqing Basketball Court in Hangzhou, China.

Bryan Sajonia, Bismarck Lina and John Rey Pasaol then took turns inside the final two minutes of the game, breaking an 11-11 stalemate that proved to be the breathing room they needed to carve out a win.

Gilas will next face Korea, Pool B’s finest, hoping to gain passage into the final four of the tournament.

The Koreans are seeded 15th in the showcase, two notches higher than the Philippines, which rebounded from a 21-12 loss to Mongolia on Friday.

Game time is at 8:55 p.m. with the victor taking the winner of the China and Chinese Taipei bracket.

Pasaol led the way with five points, while Lina and Justine Sanchez chipped in four each. Sajonia rounded out the tally with two points.