HANGZHOU, China – The Philippine men’s 3×3 team moved on the verge of completing a sweep of its Pool A assignment in the 19th Asian Games after carving out a 21-15 win over Hong Kong on Wednesday at the Deqing Geographic Information Park Basketball Court.
John Ray Pasaol and Bismarck Lina accounted for more than half of the team’s output in its third straight win in their group.
Lina and Pasaol had seven points each while presiding over a short but telling run that turned the game around in favor of the Filipinos.
Held to a 4-4 standoff, the two sparked four straight points by the Gilas team to take the lead for good at 8-4.
Justin Sanchez and JB Sajonia finished with four and three points, respectively.
Despite already assured of advancing in the quarterfinal qualifications, Gilas wants nothing but an outright berth in the knockout stage, which it can clinched with a win over Mongolia on Friday for a sweep of the group stage.
“Yun ang gusto namin. Win as many games,” said head coach Lester Del Rosario.
Gilas will take a needed rest on Thursday.
After the Philippines, running second in Group A is Chinese Taipei (2-1), Mongolia (1-1), Jordan (0-2) and Hong Kong (0-2).
The top team in each group will automatically earn a quarterfinal slot, while the next two teams will make it to the qualifications where the four other quarterfinalists will be determined.
The scores
Philippines (21) – Pasaol 7, Lina 7, Sanchez 4, Sajonia 3.
Hong Kong (15) – Wong 5, Tsang 5, Lam 3, Cheung 2.
