Singapore, 4 April 2026 – Mongolia (men’s and women’s), Republic of Korea (men’s) and Australia (women’s) delivered statement performances on Day 4 of the FIBA 3x3 Asia Cup 2026, topping their pools and powering into the quarter-finals as the Main Draw intensified.
With knockout spots on the line, the tournament’s contenders began to separate themselves.
Group C of the men’s competition featured intense matchups between Korea, Japan, and Singapore. Qualifier Korea was on fire against third-seed Japan, scoring 6 points in quick succession before Japan got themselves on the scoresheet. The confident Koreans forced errors on the Japanese and won 20-16, setting the stage for a thrilling high-stakes game against Singapore.
Earlier in the day, the home team was locked in a tough battle against Japan, with not much separating the two sides. Singapore trailed Japan by one point with 14 seconds remaining on the clock. Japan ultimately secured the game 20-16.
All eyes were on the final Group C game for the day. With the crowd cheering on their every move, Singapore scored the first point of the game but swiftly committed a foul and gave the Koreans the chance to take the lead. The Singaporeans’ clever play and shooting accuracy saw the home team take and hold the lead for much of the game but the Koreans regrouped and turned the game around in their favour, winning the game 21-19. The Republic of Korea will play Philippines in the quarter-finals while men’s top seed, Mongolia will play Japan in the other men’s quarter-finals.
In the women’s competition, defending champion Australia is through to the quarter-finals alongside second-seed of the tournament, Mongolia. Australia will face their Oceania rival, New Zealand while Mongolia will play the Philippines team.
TEAMS
Mongolia (Men’s)
Mongolia men’s team continued their strong run, finishing unbeaten to top their pool and advance to the quarter-finals. They opened with a composed 21-15 win over Chinese Taipei, before surviving a thriller against the Philippines. After trailing early, Mongolia stormed back behind Bolor-Erdene Gantsolmon, who delivered key plays down the stretch in a 21-19 victory.
Gantsolmon, currently tied for first overall in player value (24.5), has been central to Mongolia’s success, leading a balanced and resilient unit through a perfect pool phase.
Republic of Korea (Men’s)
Republic of Korea men’s continued one of the most impressive runs of the tournament, topping their pool despite coming through the qualifying draw. They opened with a statement 20-15 win over Japan, setting the tone with relentless pressure and efficient scoring. They followed it up with a hard-fought 21-19 victory over Singapore, overcoming a late push from the hometown favorites to seal top spot.
Leading the way was Kim Seungwoo, who added to his standout tournament with consistent scoring and control. From qualifying draw to pool winners, Korea has emerged as one of the most dangerous teams in the field.
Kim shared: “We prepared a lot before coming to Singapore, did a lot of analysis and things have been going according to plan. Our goal is to go even higher. Credits to my teammates for their hard work and we will keep playing with confidence. We are playing like hungry dogs out there and we're still getting used to the 3x3 format, so we are focused on learning. We believe we are amongst the best players in Korea and if we keep going, the results will come.”
Mongolia (Women’s)
Mongolia’s women were equally impressive, sweeping their group to secure top spot and a place in the quarter-finals. They dismantled Malaysia 20-6 before edging New Zealand 12-10 in a tightly contested showdown.
Leading the charge was the "Warrior Queen" herself, Khulan Onolbaatar, who continues to anchor the team’s performances. Ranked third overall in player value (17.2), Onolbaatar combined scoring and leadership to guide Mongolia through a perfect day. With both the men’s and women’s teams advancing unbeaten, Mongolia have firmly established themselves as title contenders.
Australia (Women’s)
Defending women's tournament champions Australia showed why they remain the team to beat, finishing top of their pool with two dominant wins. They crushed Tonga 21-3 before taking down the Philippines 21-10, controlling both games with size, pace and efficiency. Emma Clarke currently ranked second overall in player value (21.8) played a key role in their run. Her all-around impact helped Australia maintain their strong form as they chase another title.
Amy Atwell was happy with the team’s performance: “I’m super proud of the group. We are a completely new group here and obviously there's a little bit of expectation, but we're just out there playing fun and playing for each other, and we'll see what happens. Our hope is for three wins and the gold medal.”
Additional quotes
Japan (Men’s)
Souleymane Coulibaly shared about his team’s preparations for their match against Singapore: “We had done thorough scouting and prepared to prevent Singapore from playing the style of 3x3 they wanted to play, and I think we were able to execute that. Also, with the home advantage on their side, there were moments where we were in danger of getting swept up in their momentum. But the fact that we were able to stay calm and bring it into a foul game at those key moments — I think that's a really positive step forward for us as a team going forward.”
Philippines (Men’s)
Louis Raphael Cu was pleased with his team’s advancement into the quarter-finals: “I think we're doing well for a team that's been practicing for only 3 weeks. This team was built only 3 weeks ago so we're just taking it a day at a time. Going in, we didn't really have any expectations so you can say we've kind of overachieved but obviously we can't be satisfied (with just this result) so hopefully we build on this and do well again tomorrow.”
Singapore (Men’s)
Nur Aufa Bin Emil Putra remains positive: “We performed much better. It is why this outcome came about, and at least now we know what mistakes we made. And now, we need to figure out whether it’s mistakes on the court or having to reframe our mentality. We will figure that out and hopefully it will prepare us for the next competition (next) weekend - the FIBA 3x3 World Cup Qualifier, and then our next two big ones, the Commonwealth and Asian Games.”
The final day of the FIBA 3x3 Asia Cup 2026 begins with the first quarter-final of the day at 1.30pm at the OCBC Square at The Kallang. The semi-finals and finals also take place tomorrow, where the champions will be crowned. Children under four years of age enjoy free entry to FIBA 3x3 Asia Cup 2026, provided they do not occupy a seat. Ticket prices start from $5 (excluding booking fee).
