For the first time since the tournament's inception in 2019, the Philippines will leave the men’s 3x3 basketball event without a medal after a stingy setback to Malaysia.
As if one heartbreak was not enough, the Gilas Men’s 3x3 squad endured another after yielding to Malaysia, 19-21, to miss out on a podium finish in the SEA Games Thailand 2025 at Nimibutr Stadium Thursday, Dec. 11.
The setback marked the first time that the Philippines did not secure a medal after winning the gold in 2019, taking the bronze in 2021 and settling for silver in 2023.
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Coming off a tough semifinal loss against Singapore, Gilas found itself in another tight battle against Malaysia.
Joseph Erioubu cut the Malaysians' lead to 16-15 with a clutch two-pointer with just over three minutes remaining.
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After an and-one play, Ange Kouame kept Gilas in the thick of battle with a top-of-the-key two-pointer to make it 17-18, giving the Nationals hope in the final minutes.
But Chun Hong Ting rose over Kouame for a tough layup in the game’s final possession, securing Malaysia’s first-ever medal in men’s 3x3 basketball.
“As everybody says, things just happen. This loss is very painful for us. We came as a team, but it wasn’t enough,” Kouame said in an interview with Cignal.
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Pao Ambat earned his journalism degree from Cavite State University in 2022.
Passionate about sports from a young age, he primarily covers the NBA for One Sports, while also assisting in reporting on the PVL, PBA, UAAP, and other leagues.