Rusty Gilas 3x3 drops first FIBA OQT game against Qatar

Gilas Pilipinas 3x3 failed to get things going against Qatar.

The nationals took a hard beating and absorbed a lopsided loss against Qatar, 21-12, on the opening day of the FIBA 3x3 Olympic Qualifying Tournament (OQT) in Graz, Austria on Wednesday night (Manila time).

It was a slow day for the national, giving up an early 7-0 run from Qatar. It was Santi Santillan, who came in as a late replacement for Alvin Pasaol, who scored the Filipinos' first point with an and-one finish, 1-7.

The Philippines' No. 1 ranked 3x3 player Joshua Munzon then ignited for two consecutive shots to make it a six-point game, 5-10, while CJ Perez banked two from the perimeter, 8-14.

But the Filipinos couldn't keep up with world's No. 25, who ended the match early, 12-21.

Gilas will need to win more games in order to advance to the knockout playoffs, where the top three teams will punch their ticket to the Tokyo Olympics. 

They will next face Slovenia later tonight at 9:45 p.m.

BOX SCORES:

PHILIPPINES - Perez 5, Munzon 5, Santillan 1, Tautuaa 1.

QATAR - Saad 10, Muslic 9, Ndoye 2, Saeed 0.

—JMB, GMA News