Gilas Women Secure World Cup Spot with Dominant Victory Over Singapore

Gilas Pilipinas Women continued their rise in international 3x3 basketball, securing a spot in the FIBA 3x3 World Cup with an impressive 21-10 victory over host Singapore in a winner-takes-all showdown on Sunday at OCBC Square.

Fresh off a silver medal finish at the FIBA 3x3 Asia Cup just a week ago at the same venue, the Filipinas showed no signs of slowing down. They delivered a composed yet explosive performance, clinching one of the final three World Cup berths alongside Lithuania and Hungary. The World Cup is set to take place from June 1 to 7 in Warsaw, Poland.

After narrowly missing out on a semifinal win against Lithuania, the Philippines wasted no time asserting their dominance in this crucial match, jumping out to a 10-4 lead with a combination of sharp offense and tight defense.

Singapore, backed by a supportive home crowd, tried to mount a comeback as Lydia Ang and Jermaine Lim fueled a rally to close the gap to 11-7. The hosts nearly gained momentum when Mikka Cacho suffered a left hamstring injury following a hard collision.

Despite the setback, Gilas Pilipinas Women refused to falter. Afril Bernardino and Kacey dela Rosa steadied the ship, with both players contributing vital baskets to extend the lead to 15-8. Cacho returned to the game and quickly made her presence felt, scoring back-to-back points to push the advantage to 17-9.

With the outcome all but decided, Bernardino calmly sank two free throws with under a minute remaining, sealing the victory and securing the Philippines' return to the World Cup stage.

Dela Rosa led the charge with 11 points, while Bernardino added six points in a composed and veteran-led effort. Cacho contributed four points, and Tantoy Ferrer made her mark with hustle plays at both ends of the court.

For Singapore, Lim led with four points, while Ang, Han Xingyue, and Matilda Lai offered support.

For Bernardino, the victory marked another significant milestone in her illustrious career, earning her another opportunity to showcase her skills on the world stage—this time alongside a fresh wave of talented Filipina players.