Birthday girl Tiffany Reyes sinks clutch basket as Gilas Girls stun Korea in FIBA U16 Asia Cup

 On her 15th birthday, Tiffany Reyes gave herself — and Gilas Pilipinas Girls — the perfect gift: a game-winning basket.

Reyes buried the decisive jumper with 0.3 seconds left to lift the Philippines to a thrilling 77-75 victory over Korea in the FIBA U16 Women’s Asia Cup Division A on Wednesday at the Karisma Arena in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

The De La Salle Zobel guard finished with 16 points, eight of them coming in the fourth quarter, as she sparked the Filipinas’ late surge and capped it with the clutch shot that sealed the program’s first-ever Division A triumph.

The now 15-year old Reyes, also led the young Filipinas in makes from beyond the arc, converting four triples at a 40 percent clip. 

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BIRTHDAY GAME-WINNER!

Tiffany Reyes buried the game-winning basket to save the day for Gilas Pilipinas Girls against South Korea, 77-75, in the 2025 FIBA U16 Asia Cup on Wednesday at the Arena Seremban in Malaysia.

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— GMA Sports (@gmasportsph) September 24, 2025

Marveling at the poise of Reyes, a second-generation player, the daughter of former PBA All-Star Jay-R Reyes is already carving her own place in the national team’s history. 

Her heroics came after Ruiza Olmos tied the contest at 75-all by splitting her free throws with 10.3 seconds left. 

The six-foot-one guard grabbed the rebound from Olmos’ miss to extend the possession, setting up the final play where Makena Ramos found her open after a slick baseline inbound. Reyes pump-faked, stepped inside the line, and drilled the dagger jumper.

The Gilas bench erupted while Korea was left devastated, finishing the group stage at 0-3.

Ella Smith led the Philippines with 21 points and seven rebounds, while Olmos contributed 12 points and seven boards. 

The win secured third place in Group A (1-2) for Gilas, which now advances to the qualification-to-the-semifinals round against the Group B second seed — either powerhouse Japan or China.

Despite a monster 31-point, eight-rebound effort from Lim Seun and a 26-point, 12-board double-double from Kim Damhee, Korea fell short and will play in the classification battle to avoid relegation. 

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