WARSAW (Poland) – The Philippines may not be advancing to the knockout rounds of the FIBA 3×3 World Cup 2026, but the Filipinas still left Warsaw with a piece of history.

Needing one final push after a challenging campaign, Gilas Women produced a composed performance to defeat Italy 17-13 and secure their first-ever victory at the FIBA 3×3 World Cup.

It was a breakthrough moment years in the making.

The Philippines entered the tournament still searching for their first win on the global stage after going 0-4 when they hosted the FIBA 3×3 World Cup in Manila in 2018. Their return to the competition in Warsaw brought another difficult challenge, with losses to Latvia, Germany and China leaving them with one final opportunity to make a statement.

And they took it.

The game was tight early as neither team could create much separation, but the Filipinas found their rhythm from beyond the arc midway through the contest. Camille Clarin sparked the charge with a series of long-range bombs, including a two-pointer that stretched the lead to 10-6.

Italy responded and fought back to within a point at 10-9, threatening to spoil the party. The Philippines, though, stayed composed down the stretch, making the key plays when it mattered most to close out a memorable four-point victory.

Clarin led the way with 8 points, all coming from behind the two-point arc, while veteran Afril Bernardino added 4 points and her trademark leadership.

For Bernardino, the result carried extra significance.

She was the lone remaining member of the Philippines squad that competed at the FIBA 3×3 World Cup 2018 in Manila. Eight years later, she helped guide a new generation of Filipinas to the country’s first win on 3×3 basketball’s biggest stage.

While the knockout rounds will move on without them, the Philippines leave Warsaw having achieved an important milestone in the continued growth of women’s 3×3 basketball in the country.

It may not have been the ending they dreamed of, but it was certainly a milestone worth celebrating.

FIBA