MANILA, Philippines — King of Hoops in the Southeast Asian Games for the longest time, host Philippines sets out to extend its kingdom by annexing the newly-calendared 3x3 competitions.
Tasked to carry over Gilas Pilipinas’ domination into the inaugural three-a-side cage tournament that blasts off today at the Filoil Flying V Centre are FIBA World Cup standout CJ Perez and fellow pros Chris Newsome, Jason Perkins and Mo Tautuaa.
Veteran internationalists Jack Animam, Afril Bernardino, Janine Pontejos and Clare Castro take the cudgels for Gilas over in the women’s side.
The goal, according to Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas president Al Panlilio, is the same as that of the Gilas men’s and women’s squads – win the gold.
“I am confident that all our teams will do well and compete. Our main objective is a gold for all our events,” Panlilio said.
Perez and Co. kick off their campaign in the two-day hostilities against Indonesia, Myanmar, Vietnam and Thailand today before taking on Malaysia and Cambodia tomorrow to cap their elims assignments all the way to the medals rounds.
“We will do our best to represent the country and go all out to compete against the elite teams in the Southeast Asian region,” said Gilas men’s 3x3 coach Ronnie Magsanoc.
“Hopefully, with our countrymen behind us, we can hurdle all the challenge that lay ahead in the two-day competition,” he added.
Part of the challenge is to adapt to 3x3 rules and play a gruelling eight games in two days.
“The opposition is really good. We just have to make sure to compete well,” said Magsanoc, who will rely on the team’s “maturity, athleticism and versatility” in its quest for gold.
The Gilas women’s, bannered by veterans of Fiba 3x3 World Cup and Asian Cup, plays Myanmar, Malaysia, Indonesia today and and Vietnam and Thailand tomorrow.
Action in 3x3 raises the curtains for basketball in the SEAG. The Tim Cone-coached Gilas men’s team debuts on Dec. 4 at the MOA Arena, taking on Singapore, while the Gilas ladies take the floor on Dec. 5 against Indonesia.