Cebu Hustle 3x3 Women's International tilt kicks off this weekend

CEBU CITY, Philippines — A total of 12 games will be featured in the first day of the “Cebu Hustle 3×3: The Inaugural, A Women’s 3×3 International Invitational” tomorrow, Saturday, June 20, at the Mountain Wing Area of the SM Seaside City Cebu.

The opening game at 12:20 p.m. in Pool A features no other than Cebu’s homegrown team, Move Liloan of town councilor Kath Jumapao against the Filipino team, Tol Patriots.

Besides Move Liloan, another Cebu team, the University of the Philippines (UP) Cebu will also be seen in action.

UP Cebu and Move Liloan will have the full support of the Sugbuanons as they try to scale the mountain and shoot for upsets against favored squads in this 12-team field at SM Seaside City.

Significant for region

“It means a lot for the region na we finally have an international women’s 3×3 event like this,” said Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas Zone 8 director Popoy Navarro of this event which has Uratex, Smart, and SBP as presenters.

But the teams have made it clear that they’re not just here to participate.

“This is the biggest women’s 3×3 league na nakita natin dito sa Cebu, so of course we want to be competitive, said Kath Jumapao, who will team up with Kristel Pitogo, Sharlene Owatan, and Shai Demape for Move Liloan which is slotted in Pool A with TOL Patriots and Shinjuku Givers of Japan.

READ: Foreign squads, Gilas Women’s 3×3 lead loaded Cebu Hustle Inaugural

“We’re trying our best to do what we can do,” said UP Cebu coach Sai Bacalso, with the Fighting Maroons parading a youthful crew including Althea Degamo, Jessha Banquil, Lourien Navarro, and Maxim Magbanua as they brace for a tough Pool D against Gilas Pilipinas Women 3×3 U23 and EST Jersey of Malaysia.

Southeast Asian neighbors, Japan represented

UP Cebu will face the Gilas Women U23 in their first game at 1:35 p.m. Move Liloan will have their second game at 4:20 PM against the visiting Shinjuku Givers, while UP Cebu takes on the EST Jersey of Malaysia at 3:35 PM.

Pool B is made up of Uratex Dream, Maurice Lacroix of Japan, and CT Tigers of Thailand, while Pool C has Pilipinas Aguilas, Thailand’s Shoot It Dragons, and Singapore’s Jumpshot in this tourney which also has Aboitiz Food, SM Seaside City, Citadines Cebu City, Titan, Maxime, Pocari Sweat, University of Cebu, University of Cebu Medical Center, and SBP Zone 8 as partners.

READ: Fajardo, Rondina, other sports stars to grace Cebu Hustle 3×3

Cash prizes, wakeup call

Awaiting the champion of this Fiba Level 4 tourney is the US$3,000 cash prize, while the runner-up taking home US$2,000, and third place US$1,000.

For Bacalso, this event should also serve as a “wake up call” for Cebu City to revitalize the women’s basketball community not just in the city but in the province.

“It’s about time for Cebu City basketball, for the women that we have this. We have to come out and show that pride,” he said.

Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.

Your subscription has been successful.

Read Next

Disclaimer: The comments uploaded on this site do not necessarily represent or reflect the views of management and owner of Cebudailynews. We reserve the right to exclude comments that we deem to be inconsistent with our editorial standards.