Zoos Tokyo rules Manila Hustle 3×3 Season 2
ZOOS TOKYO reigned supreme over a bevy of stacked counterparts led by Filipino ball clubs in the Manila Hustle 3×3 Season 2 over the weekend at the SM Mall of Asia Music Hall.
The Japanese squad dominated local bet Titans, 21-13, in the finale to complete an unbeaten run with Aoi Katsura and Yuuna Onodera leading the way.
Ms. Katsura, the Tournament Most Valuable Player, scored eight points while Ms. Onodera added six highlighted by the last three points to tow Zoos to the Philippine 3×3 title plus a $3,000 grand prize.
Ms. Onodera was named to the Mythical Three selection with Titans reinforcement Supavadee Kunchuan and Discovery Perlas’ Joylyn Pangilinan.
Led by Ms. Pangilinan, Discovery completed the podium with the bronze-medal finish after a thrilling 21-20 win over another Japanese bet Tokyo Dime in the second offering of the Philippine 3×3 invitationals won by Lady Macbeth Riots in the inaugural season.
Hazelle Yam of Discovery also ruled the Two-Point Shootout to win the $200 prize in the tournament presented by Uratex and Smart.
A total of 16 teams, including nine international clubs, saw action in the Manila Hustle with the fancied Gilas Pilipinas women squads getting the early boot in stunning fashion.
Uratex Tibay, Uratex Dream, Bluefire LPG, Army Altama with foreign squads Dinoman Hansol and Unicle of Korea, Owls.EXE of Japan, Thailand’s Shoot It Dragons, Singapore’s Jumpshot, Australia’s Royals Basketball and Shiv Nadar School of India were the other participants. — John Bryan Ulanday