TNT’s Samboy de Leon. –PBA IMAGES
MANILA, Philippines — TNT Triple Giga, the most successful PBA 3×3 team with four titles, is set to compete in the Asia Tour 3×3 this weekend at SM Mall of Asia Music Hall.
Coach Mau Belen banks on Samboy de Leon, Ping Exciminiano, Gryann Mendoza, and Beninese import Raoul Odou as they compete in another international competition hosted by the country with the champion taking home the $10,000 cash prize in this Fiba Lite Quest level five competition.
TNT is one of the six Filipino teams competing in the men’s division with fellow PBA 3×3 club Cavitex Braves as well as Happy Hotels, Gameville, Demigod, and Zamboanga Valientes.
Cavitex is composed of Kenneth Ighalo, Marion Magat, and Dominick Fajardo for the Braves, while Happy Hotels parades Keith Datu, Nico Salva, Yutien Andrada, and TH Tumalip.
Gameville has Ryan Monteclaro and Mike Nzeusseu, Demigod pins its hopes on Paolo Hubalde and Chris de Chavez, as Zamboanga Valientes has Chibueze Ikeh.
International national teams Singapore Lions and Vietnam Red & Gold will also see action along with foreign clubs with Harimau Malaysia fielding two teams, as Ting Chun Hong anchors Harimau A and Heng Yee Tong steers Harimau B. Malaysian club Rising Star will have Congolese big man Tychique Bosang, while The Performance Lab of Vietnam will bank on Dominique Tham and American reinforcements Nigel Thomas and Joshua Keyes.
TNT is part of Pool D with the Performance Lab and Harimau B.
Zamboanga and Gameville are slated in Pool A with Harimau A; Pool B is composed of Happy Hotel, Demigod, and Rising Star; while Pool C has Cavitex, VN Red & Gold, and Singapore Lions.
The top-seeded teams of each group will earn an outright quarterfinals berth while the No.2 and No.3 squads will play in a crossover knockout stage to advance to the final eight. Winners then advance to the semifinals and the championship game.