3×3 tourney boosts women’s hoops calendar

With the addition of foreign teams, the Manila Hustle 3×3, an invitational tournament that will take place this February 4 at Robinsons Magnolia in Quezon City, is in a unique position to fill an important gap in the Philippine women’s basketball scene.

“I see a lot of talent but there is a lack of opportunities to play at a very high level, especially after college during graduation,” tournament director Peachy Medina told the Inquirer on Thursday. “When we played in the WNBL (Women’s National Basketball League) and were finally invited to two international leagues – in Indonesia and in Thailand – I saw a good effect on the players. It was a good experience for them. Six local crew and six clubs other guests from Singapore, Thailand, South Korea, and Japanese jockeys for $3,000 in prizes in the two-day derby.

“We’re a basketball nation with half of our 110 million people being women, so there’s an opportunity here,” Medina said during the kickoff presser at Summit Hotels in Greenhills. “To develop sports… [you] must ensure that development takes place from the grassroots level, to the high school and college level. Then [there must be regular tournaments] after college.”

The local marquee attraction of the tournament is Kaye Pingol, the top 3×3 player in the country, along with fellow Gilas Pilipinas standouts Janine Pontejos, Chack Cabinbin, Trina Guytingco, Tina Deacon, Eunique Chan, and Khate Castillo.

And these stars will be tested.

Zoo’s Tokyo will be led by two of Japan’s top 3×3 players—Aoi Katsura and Yuka Maeda. Other foreign teams joining are another Japanese club, OWLS.EXE, Thailand’s Shoot it Dragons, Singapore’s Jumpshot, and South Korea’s G2L2 and 1EYEHANSOL.

Pingol and Deacon will star in Dream while Chan is set for the Tibay banner—both Medina-owned Uratex teams.

Pontejos leads Lady Macbeth, who will be coached by Gilas program director Pat Aquino, who will miss the services of French-bound Jack Danielle Animam.

Former UAAP Most Valuable Player and international veteran Allana Lim, leads the Discovery crew coached by decorated coach Haydee Ong.

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