Zamboanga claims 2nd straight 3×3 title in Australia

MANILA, Philippines—The Zamboanga Valientes continued their 3×3 romp in Australia, securing another title in the Land Down Under.

Christopher Concepcion, Eric Miraflores, Duwom Dawan and Adam Kempton turned back the Clippers, 21-12, in the final of the Champions League Basketball 3×3 Saturday in Bendigo City to become the first Filipino team to win in the competition in Australia.

This was the Valientes’ second straight title after their triumph in the 3×3 Christine Street Hustle in the Australian capital of Canberra in December.

“We are dedicating this victory to Zamboanga and Zamboanguenos all over the world,” said Navarro, who also played for the Zamboanga team that topped the first NBA 3×3 competition in the Philippines. “We proved we can excel against foreign competition in 3×3.”

Though the Valientes finished the championship match with a sizable margin, the semifinals against South Sudan did not pan out that way.

Zamboanga trailed with three seconds left before forcing a 17-17 deadlock at the end of regulation to force overtime wherein captain Concepcion drilled a long ball for the 19-17 win.

Working through the holidays under coach and team co-owner Junnie Navarro, the Valientes were well prepared to sweep Group B with wins over Formosa, 21-5, from Taiwan and the Barbers Boys, 12-5, from Australia.

The Clippers, South Sudan, and Australia Ginger made up Group A.

Team owners Michael Venezuela and Navarro said that the team already has an invitation to play in New Zealand this year and they’re willing to accept the offer.