Gilas Boys fall to Belarus in finals of FIBA 3x3 U21 Nations League Asian tilt

Gilas Pilipinas Boys made a late run but ultimately fell short, bowing to Belarus, 20-19, in the finals of the FIBA 3x3 Youth Nations League U21 Asia 2 Stop 1 on Monday in Malaysia.

Earl Medina finished with a team-high seven points while fellow UAAP standouts Cabs Cabonilas and Koji Buenaflor both finished with five markers.

Jedric Daa had two points as Gilas took home the silver medal. Deadlocked at 15-all, Belarus went on a rampage behind Aleksei Baldin and David-Sasenhe Mukete, opening up a 20-17 cushion with just 56 seconds remaining.

But the Filipinos refused to give up with Medina and Daa each converting a one-point basket to pull to within one, but time expired before the national team could complete the comeback as Belarus escaped with a narrow victory.

Mukete led Belarus with eight points while Arseni Viarzhbitski chipped in six markers.

Before the finals, Gilas defeated both New Zealand and host Malaysia to earn its spot in the finals.

—Bea Micaller/JMB, GMA News