National aces on different 3X3 Manila Hustle teams
Fiba World Cup deputy event director Erika Dy. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
Gilas Pilipinas Women and Army Altama take the lid off the Manila Hustle 3×3’s season two this Saturday, with the Nationals looking to get their title retention bid going as well as contribute to the country’s cause.
“[W]e do have a Gilas team competing here. but at the same time, several teams (have national team standouts) outside of Gilas who are competing here, so this becomes a foundation,” Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas executive director Erika Dy said.
“We need to provide our clubs with domestic tournaments like this so they can continue operating as a club,” she went on. If you go to tournaments of higher levels, [the teams there] practice for 12 months straight. That’s the value that domestic tournaments like this give us.”
READ: Manila Hustle 3×3 looks to showcase women’s hoops rise
Camille Clarin, Mikka Cacho, Monique del Carmen and Tin Cayabyab make up the Gilas squad that will take on an Army side that its kept core members Camille Sambile, Soc Borja, and Mar Prado in a rematch of last year’s finals set 10 a.m. at SM Mall of Asia Music Hall.
Gilas Women then carried the Lady Macbeth Riots branding with Kacey dela Rosa eventually winning the tournament’s Most Valuable Player award.
Other national team standouts have been spread out in the 16-team field that features nine visiting clubs. Gilas veteran gunner Afril Bernardino is set to star for Uratex Tibay, Kaye Pingol for Uratex Dream, while Trina Guytingco and young ace Jhaz Joson for the Titans.
READ: Uratex Dream secures podium finish in Jumpshot 3×3 tilt
Dy said staging a tournament like Manila Hustle 3×3 will also provide an early workout for the national team fixtures as Gilas Women brace for a busy calendar ahead.
“We have the Fiba (International Basketball Federation) Asia 3×3 in March and then we may be joining the Korean Basketball League invitational in May and then the Jones Cup in July,” the former Ateneo mentor said.
