BOCAUE, Bulacan — Janine Pontejos scripted a storybook ending to what has been a roller-coaster campaign for the Filipinas in the FIBA 3x3 World Cup.
Pontejos proved she has the fastest draw and deadliest stroke, emerging as the victor of the shootout contest in Day Five of the global event at the Philippine Arena here on Tuesday.
In a field that included male competitors, it was the women who reigned supreme. Pontejos and Russia’s Alexandra Stolyar both finished with pace-setting 14 points. Croatia’s Hrvoje tallied 11 while Russia’s Maksim Dybovskii had eight.
Pontejos was crowned the winner after finishing all of the racks in 41.86 seconds. Stolyar, for her part, clocked 49.92.
Janine Pontejos of #Perlas ???????? with a pace-setting 14! ???? at the PH Arena crowd go crazy! #FIBA3x3WC pic.twitter.com/ImbIkovRvI
— Denison Rey Dalupang (@sonrd) June 12, 2018
Pontejos and Stolyar both finished with 14 pts. But the Filipina had quicker hands! ???? for ????????! #Perlas represent! @starsportshub @philstarnews #FIBA3x3WC pic.twitter.com/L4ekzzDZfj
— Denison Rey Dalupang (@sonrd) June 12, 2018
“Sobra po akong kinakabahan. Umpisa pa lang, nanlalamig na kamay ko. Sobrang hirap po kasi ang lakas ng aircon eh ang nipis ko pa po,” an all-smiles Pontejos said.
"So kailangan pawisan ako. Nung maglalaro na ako, sobrang lamig pa rin ako. Kinamayan nila ako, malamig pa rin kamay ko. Inimagine ko na lang, nag di-drills lang kami, so buti na lang lumabas ‘yung shooting ko,” she continued.
Pontejos’ gold translates to the Philippines’ first-ever medal in the senior’s 3x3 World Cup.
The Centro Escolar University alumna’s performance puts a finishing touch — a shining one — to Perlas Pilipinas’ showing in the contest. Pontejos also brilliantly caps off a hot shooting from deep that nearly towed the bottom-seeded Philippines against 11th-ranked Germany, 12th-ranked Spain, and third-ranked Hungary.
“Ipinagmamalaki ko po ‘yung first medal sa 3x3. Ito po ‘yung first gold medal natin sa World Cup, kung 'di ako nagkakamali. Sobrang proud po ako na ako po ang nakakuha nito,” the 25-year-old cager said.
"Ipinagmamalaki ko po na Pilipino ako. Para sa Pilipinas ‘to,” Pontejos declared.
The deadliest of ‘em all ???? ????: ????????’s Janine Pontejos. @StarSportsHub @PhilstarNews #FIBA3x3WC pic.twitter.com/m3KTZ2fELd
— Denison Rey Dalupang (@sonrd) June 12, 2018