Elizabeth Means showed her toughness, but even her determination could not prevent Gilas Pilipinas Women from running into a difficult finish at the 2026 FIBA 3×3 Women’s Series–Jinan Stop.
Playing through a painful right shoulder injury, Means tried to keep the Philippines alive after suffering the setback during a collision in the qualifying draw.
Her effort highlighted the team’s resilience, but the injury eventually became a major obstacle as Gilas faced two formidable French squads in the group stage on Saturday at Jinan Cunac Mall in China.
The Philippines found itself in a high-pressure matchup against fellow Filipino side Manila Gilas after both teams secured victories over Vietnam in their respective qualifying games.
With elimination on the line, Gilas appeared ready to move forward after building a 15-11 advantage with just 1:24 remaining.
However, the momentum shifted when Means attempted to navigate through a screen set by Tin Cayabyab. The contact resulted in a shoulder injury, forcing Gilas to finish the contest with their import playing through discomfort.
Despite the setback, Gilas Women held their ground and completed a 19-14 victory. Mikka Cacho carried the scoring load with six points, while Camille Clarin and Tantoy Ferrer contributed five points each. Means still managed to add four points despite the injury.
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For Manila Gilas, Ann Pingol and Cayabyab paced the team with five points apiece, while Sam Harada and Kaye Pingol chipped in two points each.
With Means limited and the Philippines reduced to only three healthy players, the challenge became much tougher against France. The French side took control early and cruised to a 21-8 win behind Marie Milapie’s nine points. Marie Mane and Laetitia Guapo also provided a boost with five points each.
Gilas Women then faced another must-win situation against France U25 but could not complete the comeback. The Filipinas suffered a 21-14 defeat, with Yohana Ewodo leading the French attack with 11 points and four rebounds. Samantha Peytour added eight points, while Clarin and Cacho combined for 11 points for the Philippines.
The Jinan campaign ended with lessons for a Gilas squad that continues to gain international experience in the fast-paced 3×3 format. The FIBA 3×3 Women’s Series remains one of the premier global competitions for women’s 3×3 basketball, featuring national teams, clubs, and elite players competing across multiple international stops.
Despite the setback in China, Gilas Women will have little time to regroup as the team heads to the next stop in Batam, Indonesia, scheduled for July 23 to 24. The Batam leg is part of the expanded 2026 Women’s Series calendar, which includes 25 events across Asia, Europe, and other regions before the season finale in Shanghai.
For Gilas Women, the upcoming stop offers another opportunity to test their growth against some of the world’s best 3×3 programs and build momentum heading deeper into the international season.
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