Kids got the chance to enhance their basketball skills and go head-to-head against other kids during the high-intensity Toonami 3-on-3 basketball tournament held in SM Mall of Asia Saturday. Photo by Matikas Santos/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines — Three schools emerged as big winners in the Toonami 3×3 Hoops Showdown on Saturday at the SM Mall of Asia — courtesy of their respective hardcourt rising stars.
Participants aged 10 to 15 from 12 Metro Manila schools figured in a series of competitive 3×3 basketball matches hosted by the superhero channel Toonami.
“Toonami is very much the home of super heroes. We wanted to give them the chance to be heroes themselves by playing the sport they love,” Ben Adams, regional marketing manager of Turner International Asia Pacific, told INQUIRER.net
The winning teams — one from each of the age brackets — bagged home P20,000 worth of gift certificate for basketball equipment for the schools they represent.
“We’re trying to differentiate ourselves from some of the existing 3×3 tournament. We’ve made ours exclusively for schools. School pride is a great element,” Adams also said.
Lourdes School of Mandaluyong – carried by Anfrenee Zachary Estacio, John Vincent Raguero and Ramon Diego Ignacio – defeated Don Bosco-Makati 11-7 in under 12 division.
In the under 14 bracket Gariel Paolo Antonio, Angelino Raphael Cruz. Mitsumasa Awayan, Jose Rafael Cuya of Claret School of Quezon City nipped Pasic Catholic College, 9-8.
Enrique Caunan Jr., Rhayniel John David, Klyve Audric Dunganand Johann Red Ribite of Letran ruled the under 16 division with an 11-9 triumph over Diliman Preparatory School.
This is the first year that Toonami launched the 3×3 basketball tournament.
Basketball was an easy choice for Toonami, as the sport is “part of the culture here. If you’re gonna pick any sport to play here, it’s basketball,” said Adams.
But Adams said they’re not excluding other sports as they plan their next event here in the country.
“Who knows what other sports we could do in the future? Things like street hoops, skate boarding, street football, video gaming, these form an important part of the brand DNA for Toonami.”