by Bicycle l Published on April 14, 2026

Gilas Pilipinas Women marched into the FIBA 3×3 Asia Cup 2026 Gold Medal match after outlasting Japan, 21-19, in a high-octane semifinal thriller at the OCBC Square, Kallang, Singapore last Sunday, April 5, 2026.

Anchored by the relentless interior dominance of Kacey “Danger Rosa” Dela Rosa and the veteran composure of Afril Bernardino, the Filipinas successfully avenged their 2025 semifinal exit to secure a historic championship appearance against Australia.

The contest began as a physical battle of contrasting styles, with Japan immediately testing the Philippine defense through a quick two-pointer to take an early 0–2 lead.

However, Kaye “The Legend” Pingol provided an instant response, hitting a clinical outside shot to knot the score at 2–2 and signal that the Gilas squad would not be intimidated by Japan’s perimeter speed.

As the game progressed into the middle stretch, the battle intensified in the paint.

Dela Rosa began her takeover, snatching a second-chance bucket to give the Philippines an 8–7 edge, though Japan’s rapid-fire passing and backdoor cuts allowed them to briefly reclaim a 10–12 lead in the stifling Singapore heat.

The momentum shifted decisively when Bernardino recorded a massive double block on a Japanese layup attempt, igniting the Filipino crowd and fueling a transition play that brought the score to 14–13.

The drama reached a fever pitch in the closing minutes as both teams entered the penalty.

Japan’s Meiku Takahashi threatened to steal the game by sinking back-to-back clutch two-pointers to put her team up 16–17, but Bernardino had the ultimate answer, firing a timely “equalizer” from beyond the arc to deadlock the game once more.

With the score tied at 19–19 and the target of 21 points looming, the atmosphere turned electric.

Japan launched a potential game-winning two-pointer that rattled off the rim, allowing Gilas to recover the crucial defensive rebound.

Demonstrating immense poise under pressure, the Filipinas executed one final, bruising interior play to hit the target mark.

The final bucket sealed the 21–19 victory, sparking a wild celebration on the court as the Gilas Women proved that their “puso” was now backed by the tactical power necessary to topple the giants of Asia.