Singapore, 2 April 2026 – The Main Draw of the FIBA 3x3 Asia Cup 2026 is now complete, with all eight qualifying teams confirmed after two days of intense play. The final four spots (two teams from each gender) were secured on the second day of the Qualifying Draw by Malaysia, Tonga, Philippines, and Republic of Korea.
It was a tension-filled day on the court with every team anxiously awaiting the outcome of their group's final match to see if they would progress to the Main Draw. Malaysia’s female team held off a spirited Turkmenistan and will join their male counterparts in the Main Draw. They are drawn in Group B with powerhouses Mongolia and New Zealand. Tonga made history, advancing to the Main Draw for the first time. They take the fourth qualifying spot in the women’s competition and will play Australia and the Philippines in Group D in the Main Draw.
In a closely contested match, Thailand staged a strong comeback in their deciding game with the Philippines but fell short at the end of the 10-minute game. The Philippines advances to the Main Draw with Mongolia and Chinese Taipei in their group. Meanwhile, the Republic of Korea claimed the final qualifying spot after defeating both Tonga and Vietnam. They will feature in Group C of the Main Draw alongside Singapore and Japan.
TEAMS
Malaysia (Women’s)
Malaysia impressed, going 2-0 to top their Qualifying Draw group and advance. Leading the charge was Foo Suet Ying, who scored 15 total points across two games, including a 9-point performance against India. She knocked down six two-pointers, providing consistent scoring throughout the day.
Malaysia held off India 16-13 before pulling away late in a 21-9 win over Turkmenistan.
Fook Yee Yap was pleased with the result: “Even after winning our first match, we knew we had to win to make it to the main draw, which motivated us not to give up even after falling behind. We'll focus on our defence in the Main Draw as these teams are experienced in the 3x3 format. They also have more game experience than us and are stronger, so we'll need to be ready for a more physical challenge and play smarter.”
Tonga (Women’s)
Tonga produced one of the defining moments of Day 2, advancing to the Main Draw for the first time in their history. They opened with a 13-4 win over Maldives in a controlled, low-scoring contest before stepping up offensively in a 15-7 victory over Macau to seal qualification.
With disciplined defense and scoring, Tonga finished unbeaten and secured a landmark breakthrough for the program. They join Australia and the Philippines in Women's Pool D.
Lesila Kefu Finau was pleased with their perfect record: “I think we did really well. You know, coming in, we didn't have a great start. We were missing easy layups, not making free throws, and we still won. So I think going into this game, we definitely got all the jitters out, and we came out strong this game. We knew we were going to win both games and we followed through with what we needed to do…it’s a perfect day for us.”
Philippines (Men’s)
The Philippines saved their best for last. After opening Day 2 with a 21-16 win over Maldives, they faced a decisive showdown against Thailand, and the Filipinos delivered under pressure.
Led by Raphael Cu, the Philippines stormed to a strong start, building a 14-6 lead midway behind hot shooting. Thailand responded with a late push, cutting the deficit to 15-13 with under two minutes remaining. But the Philippines held firm.
They closed out a 17-15 victory, surviving a final possession as Thailand missed a potential game-tying two-pointer. The result sealed their place in the Main Draw.
Christopher Koon said after the game against Thailand: “We've been watching them for a while. They're a really good team. We focused on sticking to the plan; we didn't want them to get too many twos, and we wanted to get ahead early. They missed some shots, we made some and it worked out.”
Republic of Korea (Men’s)
The Republic of Korea was among the standout teams of the day, delivering two dominant wins to secure its place in the Main Draw. Leading the way was Lee DongGeun, who was a high-flying scoring machine across two games.
Korea dismantled Vietnam 21-7 before following it up with a 21-11 win over Tonga, completing a perfect run.
Lee Juyeong shared: “We haven't had much rest this year, so this is a good result for us. I think Singapore is a top team and they have a strong defense. But we're Team Korea so it won't be easy (for them)...I think we're strong. We are aiming high and we want to reach the semi-finals.”
Main Draw of the FIBA 3x3 Asia Cup 2026 commences tomorrow at the OCBC Square at The Kallang with the first session of play at 3pm. Children under four years of age will enjoy free entry to FIBA 3x3 Asia Cup 2026, provided they do not occupy a seat. Ticket prices start from $5 (excluding booking fee).
