Gilas Pilipinas U23 Men drop first two games in FIBA 3x3 World Cup 

The Gilas Pilipinas Men U23 team opened its 2026 FIBA 3x3 U23 World Cup campaign with back-to-back losses on Wednesday in Wuhan, China.

The Philippine bets fell to New Zealand and Spain to go 0-2 in Pool B while Latvia and Spain both lead the group with identical 2-0 cards followed by New Zealand at 1-1.

Gilas Pilipinas, bannered by Cabs Cabonillas, Jedric Daa, John Earl Medina, and Malcolm Tyler, opened its campaign with a 21-11 loss to New Zealand, which sealed the victory with still 3:41 left to spare off a Chris Martin basket.

New Zealand started the game with an 11-4 run before Far Eastern University rookie Cabonillas pulled the youthful Filipinos to within four, 12-8, with 6:02 left in the race-to-21 match.

However, New Zealand responded with a 10-4 closing run to stun the Philippines. Medina led Gilas with six points while Cabonillas and Tyler both finished with two markers.

Gilas then faced Spain in the second game, but ran out of gas as well en route to a 21-15 loss with Cabonillas churning out six points and Tyler chipping in five markers laced with three rebounds.

Gilas Men will take on Egypt and Latvia on Thursday to revive their playoff hopes.

—JKC, GMA News