UST GROWLING TIGER forward Koji Buenaflor and the Gilas Pilipinas 3×3 U23 squad booked a 2026 FIBA 3×3 U23 World Cup spot by sweeping the Youth Nations League Asia-2 Stop 6 on Sunday, July 19 in Petaling Jaya, Malaysia.
The squad of Buenaflor, San Beda’s Jhuniel Dela Rama, Adamson’s Earl Medina and FEU’s Jedric Daa and Cabs Cabonillas reached the 500-point minimum in the overall standings, enough to secure a 3×3 World Cup spot.
The Tiger sophomore chipped in five points in a pool stage win against New Zealand, 17-11. He also contributed three markers in their 20-9 blowout win past Singapore.
Buenaflor then led the Gilas Boys in the final match of the last Youth Nations League Asia-2 stop, notching seven points against U23 3×3 rival Japan in overtime, 19-18.
The junior Gilas 3×3 squad finished second trench of the Youth Nations League Asia by dominating Stops 3, 5 and 6 with a 3-0 record each. Gilas Boys defeated Japan in the Stop 3 finals, 19-14, while they emerged to the top by beating New Zealand in Stop 5, 21-19.
Gilas Boys have also reached the final stage of Stops 1 and 4, but only finished second as they suffered a narrow loss against Belarus on Stop 1, 20-19 and Japan on Stop 4, 14-13. The 3×3 boys bowed out early in Stop 2 as the third placer.
They are set to advance to the 2026 FIBA 3×3 U23 World Cup to be held on Sept.15-19 in Wuhan, China. F
