Gilas Pilipinas names Men’s, Women’s rosters for FIBA 3×3 Asia Cup

Even with the PBA taking a brief pause for Holy Week, a different kind of national duty is about to take center stage.

Gilas Pilipinas has officially named its men’s and women’s rosters for the 2026 FIBA 3×3 Asia Cup, with both squads set to carry the country’s hopes in Singapore as they try to improve on last year’s finish and make a stronger push on the continental stage.

On the men’s side, the Philippines is banking on a group that blends pro-level shotmaking, backcourt creativity, and proven 3×3 familiarity. The quartet is made up of Ralph Cu of Barangay Ginebra, Chris Koon of Magnolia, Jerrick Ahanmisi of Terrafirma, and University of the Philippines big man Sean Alter.

It is a roster that feels deliberately built for the unique demands of 3×3 basketball — fast decisions, open-floor versatility, and the ability to score in bursts. More importantly, all four players already have backgrounds in the format, giving the team a layer of chemistry and instinct that could matter in a compressed international tournament.

Cu brings championship pedigree and familiarity with pressure situations, while Koon adds length and two-way activity from the perimeter. Ahanmisi, meanwhile, arrives as arguably the most explosive offensive weapon in the group, capable of changing games quickly with his shooting and shot creation.

Alter gives the team a different look altogether. At 6-foot-9, the UP standout provides size, rebounding, and interior presence — an especially valuable piece in 3×3, where physicality and quick finishes around the basket often swing close contests.

The men’s squad will be handled by coaches Kirk Collier and Patrick Fran, with the Philippines opening in Qualifying Draw A alongside Maldives and Thailand on April 2. If Gilas advances, it will move into Pool A with Mongolia and Chinese Taipei, both of which are already seeded directly into the main draw.

That means the challenge for the men will begin immediately. There will be little room for slow starts, especially in a format where momentum can swing in a matter of possessions and one cold stretch can end a campaign early.

Still, the roster signals a clear intent from the program: this is not just a participation group. It is a team designed to compete, score, and potentially surprise.

The women’s side, however, may be carrying even more intrigue.

Seeded fifth entering the tournament, Gilas Women will field a lineup of Afril Bernardino, Mikka Cacho, Kacey Dela Rosa, and Cheska Apag — a group that brings together experience, youth, and a growing track record in international 3×3 play. The Philippines is already slotted into Pool D, where it will await the winner of Qualifying Draw D featuring Tonga, Macau, and Maldives, with Australia also seeded in the same group.

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REP’ THE FLAG, SEAN!

The UP Men’s Basketball Team family would like to congratulate veteran big Sean Alter for being selected to be a part of Gilas Pilipinas Men’s team lineup in the FIBA 3×3 Asia Cup 2026 in Singapore.

Best of luck, Sean! Padayon! #UPFight pic.twitter.com/16rk0dmkuc

— UP Fighting Maroons (@upmbt) March 25, 2026

What makes this women’s roster especially compelling is how well its pieces complement one another.

Bernardino remains one of the pillars of Philippine women’s 3×3 basketball, bringing toughness, leadership, and a long history of delivering in FIBA competitions. Cacho adds speed, shotmaking, and familiarity with the international pace of play, while Dela Rosa gives the team length and inside presence that can be difficult for smaller lineups to handle.

Then there is Apag, one of the younger names in the squad but already part of a rising wave in the women’s 3×3 program. Her inclusion reflects the steady pipeline the Philippines has been trying to build — not just for this event, but for the future of the format.

That youth movement has already shown signs of promise. Dela Rosa and Apag were both part of the Philippines’ successful FIBA 3×3 Youth Nations League Asia-Pacific 1 campaign in Doha, where the women’s program booked a place in the 2025 FIBA 3×3 U23 World Cup. The team’s rise also helped push Gilas Women to a historic No. 14 in the world rankings, the highest ever for a Philippine 3×3 national team.

That momentum makes this latest tournament feel bigger than just another Asia Cup appearance.

Last year, Gilas Men finished 15th, while Gilas Women came agonizingly close to the podium before ending up fourth. Those results offered two different realities: one side still searching for a deeper breakthrough, and the other already proving it can contend with some of the best in the region.

Now, both teams return with something to chase.

For the men, it is about proving they can translate talent and pedigree into results in one of basketball’s most unforgiving formats. For the women, it is about taking another step in a program that has steadily become one of the country’s most promising international projects.

And for Gilas as a whole, the message is clear. Even during a league break, national basketball never really stops.

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