Gilas 3×3 loses Fiba OTQ opener, bows to Qatar

Qatar’s Abdulrahman Saad faces up against Gilas’ Joshua Munzon in their Group C game in the Fiba 3×3 Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Graz, Austria Wednesday. Photo from Fiba

MANILA, Philippines—Gilas Pilipinas 3×3 started off on the wrong foot, losing its opening match against Qatar, 21-12, in the group stages of the Fiba 3×3 Olympic Qualifying Tournament Wednesday in Austria.

Abdulrahman Saad was scorching for Qatar finishing with 10 points on 4-of-9 shooting from deep as the Philippines struggled to get into an offensive rhythm in its first game in Group C.

Gilas went 8-of-26 from the field with CJ Perez and Joshua Munzon scoring five points apiece.

Nedim Muslic, who had nine points for Qatar, finished the game with a long ball with 1:44 still left on the clock.

The Philippines 🇵🇭 fought hard but lost their opening game at the #3x3OQT against Qatar🇶🇦

Will they bounce back? 🤔 pic.twitter.com/xfIR7dCG5S

— FIBA3x3 (@FIBA3x3) May 26, 2021

Santi Santillan and Moala Tautuaa each had one point to add to the Philippines’ total.

“It’s a great feeling but we don’t want to be too happy because we still got two more games to finish in the group,” said Saad as he and his team go 2-0.

The Philippines, which is ranked no.14 in the event, will face no.4 Slovenia next.

Qatar, the no.11 team, will next play Slovenia on Friday.