Talk ‘N Text-SBP U18 ‘tataluhan’ teams dispute AsPac berth

MANILA, Philippines - The 2014 Talk n Text-SBP U18 3x3 Tatluhan finals blasts off tomorrow with 20 four-man teams slugging it out for top honors and spot in the Asia-Pacific leg at the Pearl Sports Complex in Harrison Plaza, Manila.

St. Louis-LHS-B from Baguio City and Team Wowie (Cauayan, Isabela) head the elite cast that includes Team DDDV-B (Dagupan), UA-3 (Pampanga/Olongapo City), Team USA College (Iloilo), Team Faith (Tanuan, Batangas), SHS Ateneo 1 (Cebu) and Team Titans (Naga City).

Others vying for As-Pac berths are Team Mandarayo Boys(Lucena, Quezon), Golden City (Sta. Rosa, Laguna), Cenn Taynan (Kidapawan, Cotabato), Red Rooster (Zamboanga City), Holy Cross Crusaders (Davao City), Barangay Gusa (Cagayan de Oro), Team Davies A (Bacolod City), AMA 2 (National Capital Region-Central), Barangay Signal D (NCR-South), San Juan 1 (NCR-PNG), Caloocan Team (NCR-North) and Aroro Team (Ormoc).

The top three teams will represent the country in the 3x3 FIBA World Tour-Asia Pacific leg set July 19 and 20 at SM Megamall. The top two squads will then gain berths in the 3x3 FIBA World Championship in Tokyo in October.

“We in SBP are proud to launch our centerpiece grassroots development program,” said SBP executive director Sonny Barrios. “It supports not only the development of the game all over the country but also focuses on our youth, including those out of school.”

 Comprised of boys 18 and below (born 1996 onwards) and one team leader, the finalists will be divided into four groups to play a single round elimination. The top two teams from each group advance to the Last 8 for crossover matches. The winners then move to the semifinals to determine the final two that will dispute the title and the P35,000 championship prize.

The runnerup gets P20,000, third place brings home P15,000 and fourth place P10,000. As an additional incentive, Talk ‘N Text guarantees P5,000 to teams that qualify in the Last 8.