Tiffany Reyes game-winner tows Gilas Girls past Korea to stay alive in FIBA U16 Asia Cup

Tiffany Reyes buried the game-winning basket to save the day for Gilas Pilipinas Girls against South Korea, 77-75, in the 2025 FIBA U16 Asia Cup on Wednesday at the Arena Seremban in Malaysia.

Reyes, who celebrates her 15th birthday today, capped the occasion in style with a clutch mid-range jumper over Seun Lim’s defense, lifting the Philippines to a two-point lead at the buzzer.

That put the icing on the cake for Reyes, who finished with 16 points, three rebounds, two blocks, and a steal as the Filipinas ended group play with a 1-2 card.

Ella Smith was also stellar for Gilas, picking up where she left off and dropped 21 points, seven rebounds, four assists, one steal, and one block while Ruiza Olmos chipped in 12 markers and seven boards. 

With the win, Gilas remains alive and advances to the qualification-to-the-semifinals round on Friday.

Gilas needed to overcome a double-digit deficit early in the third period after Damhee Kim sent the Koreans to a 51-41 cushion. The Filipinas then roared back, ending the period with a 15-6 run and staring at only one-point disadvantage before the fourth. 

The girls unleashed a wild fourth quarter with Reyes burying two triples as part of a 13-3 blast to open the frame as they raced to a 69-60 lead. 

But the Koreans refused to back down and fought back to secure a slim 75-74 lead thanks to the heroics of Kim and Seun Lim. 

Olmos then split his freebies to tie things up before Reyes battled three Koreans to grab the offensive rebound, which paved the way for her own game-winning shot. 

—JKC, GMA Integrated News