Naga Titans reign in TnT-SBP Tatluhan

MANILA, Philippines - Naga City dominated Ormoc-Aroro, 22-9, to rule the 2014 Talk ‘N Text-SBP U18 3x3 Tatluhan National Finals at the Pearl Sports Complex in Harrison Plaza, Manila recently.

The Titans, composed of Joshua Irvin Ayo, Raphael Jude De Vera, Karl Kenneth Estrada and Adoniz Christian Nismal, scored five straight two-pointers to break away from a tight contest against Carmelo Jose Sano, Petilos Nelson, Ramier Angelio and Boh Andrew Hermosilla, who had to travel 24 hours by land to get to the site of the national finals.

Naga won the top prize of P35,000 plus a bonus P5,000 and the right to be one of three teams to vie in the 3x3 FIBA World Tour-Asia Pacific Leg set July 19-20 at SM Megamall.

The top two teams from that tournament will advance to the 3x3 FIBA World Championship in Tokyo this October.

“We are happy with the overall success of the initial offering of our centerpiece grassroots development program,“ said SBP executive director Sonny Barrios. “We thank Talk ‘N Text for its valuable support and the SBP regional officials who worked hard to organize the eliminations. We congratulate all 20 finalists, especially the winners, including eventual champion Naga and second placer Ormoc, the last championship qualifier to get to Manila.”

Ormoc settled for P20,000, third placer National Capital Region-San Juan (King Genre Astrero, Jayson Danas, Adrian De Guzman and Joshua Montero) got P15,000, and fourth placer Davao City Holy Cross Crusaders (Alfred Joshua Capending, BJ Flores, Jan Patrick Quidato and Harry Dumagan) received P10,000.

Rounding up the Last 8 finalists are Cebu-SHS Ateneo (Steven Co, Travis Mantua, Joshua Sinclair and Andrew Velasco), Bacolod-Davies A (Aljohn Catague, Arrmand Guevarra, John Lawrence and Toral, Patrick Dave Yulo), Iloilo-USA College (Jorine Cercado, Joshua Nunal, Jay Jay Ramos and Elenito Tanaleon Jr.), and Zamboanga-Red Rooster (Wilmer Fpian Carpio, Patrick Espiritu, Jan Carl Luciano and Bernard Francis Tacula).