Tonga women make history

Tonga women made history while the the Philippines men delivered a clutch upset at the FIBA 3×3 Asia Cup 2026.

Also making headway in the the Qualifying Draw that concluded in emphatic fashion were the Malaysian women and Korean men.

Tonga produced one of the defining moments of the day, advancing to the main draw for the first time in their history.

They opened with a 13-4 win over Maldives in a controlled, low-scoring contest before stepping up offensively in a 15-7 victory over Macau to seal qualification.

With disciplined defense and scoring, Tonga finished unbeaten and secured a landmark breakthrough for the program. They join Australia and Philippines in Women’s Pool D.

The Philippines men saved their best for last.

After opening the day with a 21-16 win over Maldives, they faced a decisive showdown against Thailand, and they Filipinos delivered under pressure.

Led by Raphael Cu, the Philippines stormed to a strong start, building a 14-6 lead midway behind hot shooting. Thailand responded with a late push, cutting the deficit to 15-13 with under two minutes remaining.

But the Philippines held firm. They closed out a 17-15 victory, surviving a final possession as Thailand missed a potential game-tying two-pointer. The result sealed their place in the Main Draw. The Philippines now advance to Men’s Pool A, where they will face Mongolia and Chinese Taipei.

The Malaysian women also impressed, going 2-0 to top their Qualifying Draw group and advance.

Leading the charge was Foo Suet Ying, who scored 15 total points across two games, including a 9-point performance against India. She knocked down six two-pointers, providing consistent scoring throughout the day.

Malaysia held off India 16-13 before pulling away late in a 21-9 win over Turkmenistan.

They advance to Women’s Pool B, where they will face Mongolia and New Zealand.

Korea men were among the standout teams of the day, delivering two dominant wins to secure their place in the Main Draw.

Leading the way was Lee DongGeun, who was a high-flying scoring machine across two games.

Korea dismantled Vietnam 21-7 before following it up with a 21-11 win over Tonga, completing a perfect run. Korea join Japan and Singapore in Men’s Pool C.