Gilas Women reach Fiba 3×3 Asia Cup main draw after sweep

FILE–Gilas Pilipinas’ women’s 3×3 Camille Clarin. Clarin and the Gilas women team are competing in the Fiba 3×3 Asia Cup. –FIBA PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — Camille Clarin led the collective effort of the Gilas Pilipinas Women to barge into the main draw of the Fiba 3×3 Asia Cup after beating Kazakhstan, 21-12, and completing a three-game sweep of the qualifying draw Group B on Maundy Thursday in Singapore.

Clarin put on the finishing touches including the game-winning two-pointer with 10.6 seconds left to enter the main draw in Pool C with Mongolia and Malaysia.

The National University star helped Gilas pull away midway through the game as she scored five points including four free throws for a 16-7 spread as the Kazakhs committed eight fouls.

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Mikka Cacho and Kaye Pingol stretched their lead to eight, 18-10. Clarin put Gilas on the verge of victory, scoring inside off a postmove for a 19-12 lead before her two-pointer.

Clarin finished with nine points, while Pingol, Cacho, and Jhaz Joson delivered four points each.

Kazakhstan fell short of entering the main draw after losing its most important game.

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The Kazakhs banked on Tamila Zhakipova and Xeniya Abdurashitova, who had four points each.

The Philippines dominated Group B of the qualifiers after routing Tahiti with a 21-3 annihilation and beating Maldives, 19-11, on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, the Gilas 3×3 men will compete in the main draw this weekend as the No.6 seed with  Gryann Mendoza, Chester Saldua, and Ping Exciminiano as well as Joseph Sedurifa, who will fill in the big shoes of the injured Almond Vosotros.

The Mau Belen-coached team is slated in Pool C with Japan and the winner of the qualifying draw Group C.