Women 3-on-3 makes debut

MANILA, Philippines - A mix of former and current national stalwarts banners the cast of players slugging it out in the inaugural PBA Dickies Women’s 3-on-3 Tournament.

Perlas Pilipinas players Camille Sambille, Aliana May Lim, Katherine Sandel and Fria Bernardo are among the players to be introduced as 3-on-3 participants during the halftime of the Rain or Shine-Star faceoff.

Sambille, Lim, Camila Denise Escoto and France Mae Cabinbin make up the Blackwater Elite team while Sandel, Bernardo, Angelica Ortega and Anna Regina Buendia compose the NLEX side – two of the most formidable squads entered in the novel event.

“Our driving principle is for the PBA to extend its fan base. And what we saw was the most neglected women’s basketball. It generates a lot of interest,” said PBA commissioner Chito Narvasa as to the rationale of putting up the event.

Narvasa also mentioned filling in the gaps in between games in the PBA.

The Dickies 3-on-3 event will be played Wednesdays and Fridays.

Former national Denise Patricia Tiu, cousin of Rain or Shine star Chris, headlines the Alaska team that includes Rica Francisco, April Siat and Vangie Soriano.

The 12 teams are divided into two groups with each group playing one round robin in the eliminations. The top two from each group clash in crossover knockout semifinals. The winners then meet in a best-of-three finale.