PURA of Cebu defeated Olongapo, 21-12, to rule the SBP-Talk ‘N Text U18 Tatluhan National Finals recently at Robinson’s Place Manila in Ermita.
Carlo Cesar Ortega, Jaur Edrel Igna, Lucky Ecarma and Errol Pastor advanced to the championship after edging Bacolod, 13-12, in the semifinals.
Pura will be one of three teams to represent the country in the Fiba 3x3 World Tour Manila Masters.
Olongapo, represented by Lyceum Subic’s Allen Fomera, Edler Tirona, Renz San Luis and Mark Macatlang, made it to the final by nipping Ateneo de Naga, 16-15.
Naga downed Bacolod, 17-14, in the battle for third place.
PBA players will again be invited to the Manila Masters leg which the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas is hosting for the second time on Aug. 1 and 2 at Robinson’s Place Manila.
“It’s a good thing the Manila event will be held after the PBA season so the players can represent our national teams,” said SBP executive director Sonny Barrios.
The top two teams will advance to the world championship in Abu Dhabi on October 15 and 16.
Fiba 3x3 stops are also scheduled in Prague (8-9 August), Beijing (15-16 August), Lausanne (28-29 August), Mexico City (9-10 September) and Rio de Janeiro (26-27 September) leading up to the Abu Dhabi finals.
Last year, the Manila West team composed of pros Terrence Romeo, KG Canaleta, Rey Guevarra and Aldrech Ramos and coached by UAAP champion Eric Altamirano and La Salle-Greenhills mentor John Flores, upset a FIBA 3×3 world champion team from Qatar to rule the Manila Masters leg and earned passage to the world championship in Sendai, Japan.
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