Asian Games: Gilas Men 3x3 team drops to battle for bronze after semis loss to Korea

Gilas Pilipinas Men fell short of a finals berth after absorbing a 21-9 loss to South Korea in the men's 3x3 basketball semifinals of the 2026 Asian Games on Friday in Japan.

The Filipinos, who absorbed their first defeat in the tournament following a group stage sweep and a quarterfinal escape of Chinese Taipei, will now shift their focus to the bronze medal match as they look to salvage a podium finish.

Gilas Men were immediately in trouble after South Korea unleashed a huge 5-0 start courtesy of back-to-back two-pointers from Lee Juyeong and Kim Seungwoo before a pair of free throws from Lee Donggeun helped the Koreans establish a 7-1 lead.

The woes piled up for the Filipinos when Doy Dungo was called for an unsportsmanlike foul, sending Kim to the stripe that sparked another 6-1 rampage for South Korea, 13-2.

Gilas then roared back late with Koji Buenaflor knocking down a two-pointer to slice the deficit to nine, 18-9, in the final 1:25 of the match. Lee, however, had the final say by burying a long-range two to put the game away with 29 seconds still to play.

—Bea Micaller/JMB, GMA News