CEBU, Philippines - Team Amigos, a mix of players from the Central Visayas Grade School basketball that played at the recent Palarong Pambansa, led the roll call of champions in the 3on3 Basketball Madness @ Insular Square over the weekend. Team Amigos went on an unbeaten run all throughout the tournament to bag the championship of the Under 13 age group. They swept the elimination round at 5-0, then overcame a slow start before thumping an upset-seeking Team Enad/Callelero, 27-17, in the semifinals. They then ousted Siknoy Noodles House, 25-11, in the finals.
In the Under 12 division, Ateneo 1 bagged the title by also sweeping the opposition, recording a 4-0 slate in the elimination round. They then defeated Ateneo 2, 15-7, in the semis before topping USJR-A, 24-19 in the championship game.
The Under 9 class was dominated by Power Play-Pereas. After a 4-0 sweep in the elimination, they dumped USJR-B, 32-6, in the semifinals and sister-team Power Play-Pasibog, 22-13, in the finals. USJR won the Under 8/Born 2004 division by going 3-1 in the elimination round.
The 3on3 Basketball Madness @ Insular Square was a summer offering of Insular Square, a commercial center located along the Cebu North Road/Highway in Tabok, Mandaue City. It was organized to provide a venue for young basketball enthusiasts to engage in a friendly game of 3on3, a basketball event that is now being pushed by the FIBA. Games were played indoors on courts specially laid out for the occasion. Adjustable goals were also utilized so as to accommodate the younger age groups.
Its next sporting activity is the live telecast of the Manny Pacquiao-Timothy Bradley fight on Sunday morning. This is for free for those who can present official receipts worth P1,000, accumulated or purchased from any Insular Square tenant between the period of May 27 to June 10. - THE FREEMAN