BOCAUE - Team Phl missed the FIBA 3x3 World Cup playoff round but earned some measure of respect with its 19-12 conquest of third seed Russia in the closing game of pool play at the Philippine Arena here Monday night.
Stanley Pringle, Troy Rosario and Roger Pogoy strung up eight twinners to highlight their epic upset of the Russians that was a big solace in their third-place windup in Pool C behind Canada and Mongolia.
These PBA stars could have made the quarterfinals if not for the slip-up in the closing seconds of their game against Canada.
Rosario, Pringle, Pogoy and Christian Standhardinger eventually bowed out of contention following a 19-16 win by Mongolia over Brazil a little later.
Canada and Mongolia finished first and second in Pool C, thus, advancing to the playoff round with three-time champ Serbia, second seed Slovenia, No. 4 Latvia, No. 5 Ukraine, No. 7 Poland and No. 8 the Netherlands.
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It's Serbia versus Mongolia, Latvia opposite Poland, Slovenia against Ukraine and Canada versus the Netherlands.
The Filipinos came to within a few seconds of upsetting the Canadian but broke down on defense and went down with the painful loss.
Michael Linklater canned in an open two-pointer then drove by Standhardinger as Canada moved ahead, 20-19, with three seconds to go.
The Filipinos actually still found an opportunity to salvage the game in the dying seconds but Pogoy missed a make-or-break twinner at the buzzer.
After an hour rest, Team Phl poured its frustration on Russia.
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Pringle made nine markers, Rosario collected eight while Pogoy added two in the Phl-Russia match. Against Canada, Pogoy finished with 10 points while Standhardinger, Pringle and Rosario added four, three and two, respectively.(SB)
