Gilas Pilipinas Men opened the FIBA 3x3 Asia Cup 2026 qualifying draw with a 21-16 win over Maldives on Thursday at The Kallang in Singapore.

The Philippines, seeded No. 9 in the tournament, moved closer to advancing to Pool A with the win over Maldives. They will face Thailand later in the day for a place in the main draw.

The team is composed of PBA players Jerrick Ahanmisi of Terrafirma, Ralph Cu of Barangay Ginebra, Chris Koon of Magnolia, and Sean Alter of University of the Philippines.

Gilas 3x3 leaned on Alter for inside points, earning the victory after being down 9-8, against Maldives. Ahanmisi closed the game with a fadeaway shot after struggling to nail outside shots early in the contest.

The winner of the Philippines-Thailand battle will join top-seed Mongolia and No. 8 Chinese Taipei in Pool A.

Gilas Pilipinas Women will also be competing in the tournament, having already made it to the Pool D with Australia and another squad from the qualifying draw.

The women's team, ranked No. 5 in the tournament, is comprised of Cheska Lorraine Apag, Afril Bernardino, Mikka Cacho, and Kacey Dela Rosa.

They will start play on Saturday.