URATEX Dream and XD were the first two teams to book quarterfinal spots in Manila Hustle 3x3 Season 3 after topping their respective pools on Saturday at SM Mall of Asia Music Hall.
Kaye Pingol, the country’s top-ranked women’s 3x3 player, guided the Dream to a perfect 3-0 run in Pool B to earn the outright ticket to the final eight.
She was unstoppable in their 18-10 rout of New Zealand Creamery before hurdling Shoot It Dragons, 21-17, and a dominant 21-12 win over Jumpshot Singapore in this tourney co-presented by Uratex, Smart, and the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP).
“Yung Dream talaga ngayon is sobrang mature. Marunong na kami mag-close out ng games and alam na namin kung paano mag-adjust para makuha pa rin yung panalo,” said Pingol, who linked up with Afril Bernardino, Sam Harada, and Chinese center Li Renzhu in the undefeated stretch.
XD of Japan also did the same feat after going spotless in Pool A, including a thrilling 21-19 overtime win over Gilas Pilipinas 3x3 U23.
Momoko Saito scored the last four points for the Japanese crew, including the OT-forcing drive in the final 10 seconds to stun their younger foes.
XD earlier flaunted its muscle with a 21-7 mugging of Army Altama before an 18-11 nipping of Dinoman Hansol of Korea.
Uratex Dream will face the winner of the Panthers 3x3 and Gilas Women 3x3 U23, while XD await the survivor of the Tokyo BB-Shoot It Dragons clash in this tourney which has Titan as official partner, together with Wilson, Seiko, B’lue, Secret Fresh, BDO, Jollibee, TRYP by Wyndham, Jisulife, Rexona, Senka, and Laurin.
At stake is the USD4,000 cash prize and an invite to the WKBL Triple Jam later this year. The runner-up will take home USD2,500 and the third placer USD1,500.
Titans Also Book Manila Hustle 3x3 QFs spot
Later, Titans also marched on to the quarterfinals of Manila Hustle 3x3 Season 3 after topping Group C.
Last year’s runner-up was all business in Pool C as the quartet of Supavadee Kunchuan, Lina Nakazawa, Trina Guytingco, and Stefanie Berberabe dominated their group, earning wins over Royals Basketball (15-7), Uratex Tibay (21-15), and Tokyo BB (21-16).
With the victory, Titans now lie in wait for the winner of the qualification to the quarterfinal between Dinoman Hansol and Gilas Pilipinas 3x3 Women.
Gilas settled for the third seed in Pool D due to inferior points scored even if they took down defending champion Zoos Tokyo, 21-19, in overtime and fended off Harimau Malaysia, 16-10, in the nightcap.
Jhaz Joson delivered the booming deuce in front of a capacity crowd to inflict the first defeat to the Japanese club.
Still, Zoos Tokyo ended up on top of the group after a three-way tie for first with Panthers 3x3 and Gilas Women with their identical 2-1 records, as the squad led by world no. 55 Ama Degbeon earned the final outright quarterfinal seat and will meet the victor of the clash between Uratex Tibay and Jumpshot.
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