The Gilas Women returned to the Philippines carrying a historic silver medal after an impressive campaign in the women’s 3×3 basketball competition at the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games in Japan.
Kacey dela Rosa, Amyah Espanol, Kennan Ka and Maria Pasilang represented the country in the fast-paced basketball event. Their successful run ended with a place on the podium, giving Philippine basketball an important result in one of Asia’s biggest sporting competitions.
Although the national team fell short of winning the championship, its silver-medal finish marked the Philippines’ first Asian Games medal in women’s 3×3 basketball. The achievement also made Gilas Women the only Philippine basketball squad to earn a medal at the tournament.
Japan Defeats Gilas Women in the Final
The Philippines faced host country Japan in the gold-medal match at the Kinjo Futo Station Square Venue. The Filipinas stayed competitive during the early stages, but Japan eventually took control and completed a 21-11 victory.
Japan’s outside shooting created the biggest difference in the basketball final. The hosts converted seven of their 16 attempts from two-point range, while the Philippines failed to make a two-pointer. Under 3×3 basketball rules, shots made from behind the arc are worth two points, making accurate long-range shooting especially valuable.
Sakura Horiuchi helped Japan establish a 7-3 advantage after scoring five points during an important stretch. The Gilas Women continued to compete and reduced the deficit to 14-9 following a basket by Espanol with 2:24 remaining.
Japan responded with consecutive two-pointers from Haruka Yamamoto and Horiuchi, extending the lead to 18-9. Ka and dela Rosa answered with back-to-back baskets, but Yuki Hirashita ended the contest with a drive and the championship-winning two-pointer.
Key Performers in the Championship Game
Dela Rosa led the Philippine offense and remained active on both ends of the basketball court. The final statistics highlighted the players who had the largest impact on the gold-medal match:
- Kacey dela Rosa recorded six points and three rebounds for the Philippines.
- Amyah Espanol added three points, while Kennan Ka contributed two.
- Yuki Hirashita paced Japan with nine points and five rebounds.
- Sakura Horiuchi finished with eight points and seven rebounds.
- Haruka Yamamoto and Fatoumanana Nishi scored two points each.
Japan’s advantage from long range allowed the home team to pull away despite the determined effort of the Filipinas. The final result, however, did not erase the value of the Philippines’ complete tournament performance.
A Silver Medal Built on Team Effort
The silver medal reflected the preparation, discipline and teamwork shown by the four-player roster throughout the competition. Playing 3×3 basketball requires quick decisions because of the smaller court, 12-second shot clock and constant movement between offense and defense.
Every possession can immediately affect the result, leaving little time for a team to recover from missed shots or defensive mistakes. Gilas Women handled those demands well enough to reach the final and compete for the Asian Games championship.
Coach Anton Altamirano acknowledged the disappointment of missing the gold but expressed pride in the team’s effort. He said the players deserved recognition for their sacrifices and hard work, adding that the group remained happy to bring a medal home for the country.
Historic Result for Philippine Basketball
The silver medal carried added significance because Gilas Women delivered the Philippines’ only basketball medal at the Aichi-Nagoya Games. The country’s other basketball entries, including the traditional five-on-five squads, finished outside the medal positions.
The result also continued the progress of the national women’s 3×3 program. Competing successfully against leading Asian teams gives the players valuable experience while showing that the Philippines can challenge for podium finishes in international basketball.
For dela Rosa, Espanol, Ka and Pasilang, returning home with silver represented more than a second-place finish. Their campaign established a new milestone for women’s 3×3 basketball in the country and gave Filipino supporters another reason to follow the team’s development.
The gold medal remained out of reach, but the performance of Gilas Women stood as a meaningful achievement. Their silver-medal run combined resilience, teamwork and national pride, providing Philippine basketball with one of its most memorable results at the 2026 Asian Games.
