Slot open for 3x3 World Cup

The Philippines will be represented by four gritty women at the FIBA 3x3 World Cup in Warsaw, Poland, on June 1-7 and so far, three are virtual shoo-ins to make the lineup with only one slot left to fill.

SBP 3x3 director Ryan Gregorio said “pretty much assured” of cracking the roster are Kacey De la Rosa, Afril Bernardino and Mikka Cacho. “Still finalizing the fourth player,” he said yesterday. Aside from the three, the others in the national women’s 3x3 pool are Camille Clarin, Tantoy Ferrer, Kaye Pingol, Cheska Apag, Gabi Bade, Camille Malagar, Amyah Espanol, Jam Meniano, Louna Ozar and Elizabeth Means.

Coach Anton Altamirano deployed De la Rosa, Bernardino, Cacho and Apag when Gilas took second at the FIBA Women’s 3x3 Asia Cup in Singapore last month to qualify for the World Cup. There are 20 teams playing at the Parade Square in downtown Warsaw with the Philippines bracketed in Pool C, joined by China, Germany, Italy and Latvia. The round-robin group phase will be on June 1-4 and the KO playoffs are on June 5-7. Five teams are in four pools with Netherlands, Poland, Czechia, Azerbaijan and Madagascar in Pool A, Spain, USA, Mongolia, Hungary and Australia in Pool B and France, Canada, Japan, Ukraine and Lithuania in Pool D. Among the 20 contenders, the Philippines is No. 17 in ranking points ahead of Lithuania, Azerbaijan and Madagascar.

Gilas will make its debut against Latvia at 12:55 p.m. on June 1 then that same day, returns to engage Germany at 2:45 p.m. It will be rest on June 2. The next day, Gilas tackles China at 12:30 p.m. and Italy at 2:45 p.m.  The top finishers of each pool advance to the quarterfinals outright while the next two placers face off in the Round of 16 on June 5. The quarterfinals are on June 6. The semifinals, playoff for third and final will be on June 7.

Meanwhile, the FIBA 3x3 women series reeled off at the SM Mall of Asia Music Hall yesterday with Bade, Cacho, Clarin and Ferrer suiting up for Gilas. Tomorrow, the men take the stage for the Challenger meet featuring 16 teams with the top three finishers qualifying for the FIBA 3x3 World Tour in Vienna on June 12-14. Three Philippine teams are competing in the Challenger joust with Jerrick Ahanmisi, Dom Fajardo, Joseph Eriobu and Sean Alter for Mandaluyong, Rob Herndon, Zed Ethule, Jummel Puno and Jeff Manday for Pasay and Nic Cabanero, Gelo Crisostomo, Aldous Torculas and a replacement for Doy Dungo, nursing a left knee sprain, for San Juan.

Gregorio said the FIBA 3x3 U23 Nations League scheduled on May 28-June 3 in Qatar has been moved to Singapore in August. It will be a prelude to the Asian Games in Nagoya on Sept. 19-25 with U23 teams playing. Gregorio said his wish list for the Asian Games roster includes UAAP men’s 3x3 MVP Luis Pablo.

Slot open for 3x3 World Cup

The Philippines will be represented by four gritty women at the FIBA 3x3 World Cup in Warsaw, Poland, on June 1-7 and so far, three are virtual shoo-ins to make the lineup with only one slot left to fill.

SBP 3x3 director Ryan Gregorio said “pretty much assured” of cracking the roster are Kacey De la Rosa, Afril Bernardino and Mikka Cacho. “Still finalizing the fourth player,” he said yesterday. Aside from the three, the others in the national women’s 3x3 pool are Camille Clarin, Tantoy Ferrer, Kaye Pingol, Cheska Apag, Gabi Bade, Camille Malagar, Amyah Espanol, Jam Meniano, Louna Ozar and Elizabeth Means.

Coach Anton Altamirano deployed De la Rosa, Bernardino, Cacho and Apag when Gilas took second at the FIBA Women’s 3x3 Asia Cup in Singapore last month to qualify for the World Cup. There are 20 teams playing at the Parade Square in downtown Warsaw with the Philippines bracketed in Pool C, joined by China, Germany, Italy and Latvia. The round-robin group phase will be on June 1-4 and the KO playoffs are on June 5-7. Five teams are in four pools with Netherlands, Poland, Czechia, Azerbaijan and Madagascar in Pool A, Spain, USA, Mongolia, Hungary and Australia in Pool B and France, Canada, Japan, Ukraine and Lithuania in Pool D. Among the 20 contenders, the Philippines is No. 17 in ranking points ahead of Lithuania, Azerbaijan and Madagascar.

Gilas will make its debut against Latvia at 12:55 p.m. on June 1 then that same day, returns to engage Germany at 2:45 p.m. It will be rest on June 2. The next day, Gilas tackles China at 12:30 p.m. and Italy at 2:45 p.m.  The top finishers of each pool advance to the quarterfinals outright while the next two placers face off in the Round of 16 on June 5. The quarterfinals are on June 6. The semifinals, playoff for third and final will be on June 7.

Meanwhile, the FIBA 3x3 women series reeled off at the SM Mall of Asia Music Hall yesterday with Bade, Cacho, Clarin and Ferrer suiting up for Gilas. Tomorrow, the men take the stage for the Challenger meet featuring 16 teams with the top three finishers qualifying for the FIBA 3x3 World Tour in Vienna on June 12-14. Three Philippine teams are competing in the Challenger joust with Jerrick Ahanmisi, Dom Fajardo, Joseph Eriobu and Sean Alter for Mandaluyong, Rob Herndon, Zed Ethule, Jummel Puno and Jeff Manday for Pasay and Nic Cabanero, Gelo Crisostomo, Aldous Torculas and a replacement for Doy Dungo, nursing a left knee sprain, for San Juan.

Gregorio said the FIBA 3x3 U23 Nations League scheduled on May 28-June 3 in Qatar has been moved to Singapore in August. It will be a prelude to the Asian Games in Nagoya on Sept. 19-25 with U23 teams playing. Gregorio said his wish list for the Asian Games roster includes UAAP men’s 3x3 MVP Luis Pablo.