The Gilas Pilipinas 3×3 squad is ready to return to Manila after not being able to qualify for the main draw of the 2019 International Basketball Federation (FIBA) 3×3 Asia Cup in Doha, Qatar, yet they claim their two-day run at Changsha, China a success after finishing with a 2-2 win-loss standing – succeeding in both games during day two.
University of the Philippines player Ricci Rivero bowed out of the competition after suffering from an ankle injury during the first game. Therefore, RJ Abarrientos, Rhayyan Amsali, and Charles Barkley Ebona had to step up for the absence. Abarrientos alone, being one of the shortest and youngest players in the entire tournament, proved that height and age are simply numbers after scoring 32 of Team Philippines’ 43 points during Day Two when they won both games.
Gilas Pilipinas’ head coach Ronnie Magsanoc stated that he is “very happy for the players,” stating, “There were only three players and they won. This is the result of their sacrifices for the past month. This is for Ricci and the players and all of the supporters who believed in this team.” He added, “We were really down yesterday and we knew it would be tough without Ricci. I just want my teammates to go all out, just play with heart. I don’t want to have regrets. I don’t want to think about the things I could have done differently when we get back to the Philippines so I gave it my best.”
As for Abarrientos, who is most known as a Far Eastern University (FEU) standout, he responds to his breakout performance, saying, “I could not describe how I was feeling earlier. It makes me proud to play for the Philippines, especially when the fans here and the players from other countries started cheering for us. I’m happy they saw what Philippine basketball is all about.”
Despite the 2-2 draw in Group A, the Philippines was eliminated due to an undefeated home team.