Manila Hustle Season 3 3x3.MANILA — Women’s basketball will yet again take center stage as Manila Hustle 3x3 makes its return this weekend for its Season 3.
The 16-team field will be held at the Mall of Asia Music Hall in Pasay City on February 8 and 9, and the international women’s halfcourt tilt promises high-stakes action anew.
“What will set Season 3 apart is that it’s happening in the midst of the rise of women’s basketball in the past years,” said Tournament Director Peachy Medina during the tilt’s pre-event press conference on Monday in Pasay.
“With that, there are now more opportunities for women to play unlike in Season 1. There are now more opportunities to play and develop themselves, so I think, this Season 3, I expect more spectacular play and fiercer,” she added.
This now puts Season 2 champions Zoos Tokyo in an interesting spot, but world no. 55 Ama Degbeon, no. 219 Maya Tahira, Miran Kikuchi, and Fatoumanana Nishi are prepared to go against all odds to defend their title.
Standing in the way of Zoos in Pool D are Gilas Pilipinas Women 3x3, led by Jhazmin Joson, Camille Clarin, Hazelle Yam, and Mikka Cacho, Barcelona’s Panthers 3x3, which features world no. 22 Kacie Bosch and no. 136 Ari Geli, as well as Harimau Malaysia.
Season 3 runners-up TItans, who is included in Pool C, will yet again feature Thai star Bo Supavadee and Japanese Lina Nakazawa to pair up with Trina Guytingco and newcomer Stefanie Berberabe.
Joining them there are Uratex Tibay, Tokyo BB Japan, and Royals Basketball Australia.
Meanwhile, Ateneo de Manila University star and Season 1 MVP Kacey Dela Rosa will be leading Gilas Women Under-23 3x3 with Cielo Pagdulagan, Tin Cayabyab, and Elaine Etang in Pool A.
Also in the same group is Army Altama spearheaded by Janine Pontejos, as well as Dinoman Hansol of Korea and XD of Japan.
Lastly, World No. 58 Kaye Pingol, Afril Bernardino, and the rest of Uratex Dream are in Pool B with New Zealand Creamery, Jumpshot Singapore, and Shoot It Dragons of Thailand.
The squads are placed in four groups of four playing a single-round robin. The top seeds will earn an automatic quarterfinals berth, while the second and third-ranked teams will play in a wildcard match in knockout-style playoffs.
Winners of the Philippine 3x3 women’s international invitational will take home the USD 4,000 cash prize and an invitation to the WKBL 3x3 tourney, while the runner-up and the third placer will bring home USD 2,500 and USD 1,500, respectively.
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