RULING last year’s tournament, Zoos Tokyo is coming in as the favorites for Manila Hustle 3x3 Season 3 this Feb. 8 and 9 at SM Mall of Asia Music Hall.
But despite being the top target in the 16-team field, it’s almost a completely new squad for the team owned by last year’s MVP Aoi Katsura with only world no. 55 Ama Degbeon returning to our shores.
Nonetheless, Zoos is still a tough cookie to break with world no. 219 Maya Tahira, Miran Kikuchi, and Fatoumanana Nishi completing the roster in this tilt co-presented by Uratex, Smart, and the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP).
And they will be tested early on as they were slotted in Pool D, the so-called Group of Death in the tourney, as they will play Gilas Pilipinas Women 3x3, led by Jhazmin Joson, Camille Clarin, Hazelle Yam, and Mikka Cacho; Panthers 3x3 from Barcelona, Spain which will have world no. 22 Kacie Bosch and world no. 136 Ari Geli; and Harimau Malaysia.
Titans, runners up from last season, will bring back Thai star Bo Supavadee and Japanese Lina Nakazawa to pair up with Trina Guytingco and newcomer Stefanie Berberabe.
They banner Pool C which is grouped with Uratex Tibay, Tokyo BB Japan, and Royals Basketball Australia.
Season 1 MVP Kacey dela Rosa is also back with a vengeance as she leads the pack for Gilas Pilipinas Women U23 3x3 together with Cielo Pagdulagan, Tin Cayabyab, and Elaine Etang.
They are slotted in Pool A with Army Altama spearheaded by Janine Pontejos, as well as Dinoman Hansol of Korea and XD of Japan.
And rounding out the field will be Uratex Dream, leaning on the duo of world no. 58 Kaye Pingol and Afril Bernardino, as they lead Pool B with New Zealand Creamery, Jumpshot Singapore, and Shoot It Dragons of Thailand.
Teams are placed in four groups of four playing a single-round robin, with the top seeds earning an automatic quarterfinal berth while the second and third-ranked teams playing in a wildcard match in a knockout style playoffs.
Winners of the Philippine 3x3 women’s international invitational will take home the USD4,000 cash prize and an invitation to the WKBL 3x3 tourney, with the runner-up bagging USD2,500 and the third placer USD1,500.
Aside from the on-court action, fans will also be treated to an afternoon of entertainment with StreetQueens performing on Saturday, while a Slam Dunk Contest between David Carlos, Aldous Torculas, and Ashon Andrews will spice up the Sunday festivities with DJ Bigboy Cheng, Alyssa Valdez, and Jared Dillinger serving as judges.
Games will be livestreamed on the Manila Hustle 3x3 Facebook page, as well as on the Smart Sports and Puso Pilipinas pages.
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