SIX TEAMS will advance to the NBA 3X Playoffs and will compete against Metro Manila division qualifiers at the Mall of Asia Music Hall on Aug. 25-26.
The National Basketball Association (NBA) officially tipped off NBA 3X Philippines 2018 presented by AXA with the first-ever qualifiers in North Luzon at Benguet State University on August 11-12.
A total of 100 teams from Apayao, Dagupan, Baguio, Benguet and other nearby provinces, including entries from Caloocan City in Metro Manila, competed in the North Luzon qualifiers.
Now on its eighth consecutive year, NBA 3X is staging two preliminary tournaments with the succeeding competition set at the Don Bosco Technical Institute Makati on Aug. 18-19 to provide more male and female players an opportunity to participate in the 3-on-3 tournament.
Rieken Espinosa, Dreyxius Castillo, Kyle Patrick Margarata, and Adam Floyd Darden of Team Greyhounds topped the U13 Division, while Jaudenes Parone, Dennis de Vera, Manson Lee Carantes and Francis Almazan of Team SLU-A topped the Under-16 division.
The other winning teams for the boy’s division were Team Caloocan Supremos C (Under-18) composed of Ryan Ricasio, Raphael Jerhold Flores, Mark Francois Sapla, and Jino Lacsa); and Team UL-Dagupan City A (Open Category) made up of Mario Angelito Torio, Reynald Ballesteros, Robert Caasi Jr. and Julius Tiburcio.
In the women’s category, Regimay Castres, Rosemarie Delos Santos, Jane de Vera, and Fionna Kixsha Camangeg of Team Balon Dagupan topped the Under-18 division while Ruthlaine Chlaire Tacula, Raechelle Ann Sao, Ryzelle Ann Limet, and Love Joy Sto. Domingo of Team Pudtol Apayao bested the Open Category.
In the celebrity division, Baguio Correspondents and Broadcasters Club (BCBC) B composed of Doddie Mendillo, balikbayan Arnold Nicolas, Manman Sortejas and Migs Velarde kept undefeated until their finals game to win the title besting BCBC A composed of Jonathan Llanes, Jordan Tablac and Bobby Bio.
Both BCBC team entered the finals after edging Team Yup and ABS-CBN Baguio during the eliminations round.
The NBA 3X Playoffs will be highlighted by the presence of an NBA player, NBA legend, slam dunk team, and the celebrity division starring entertainment and media personalities as well as contests and activities for the family.
AXA Philippines is the presenting partner of NBA 3X Philippines 2018. In addition, CloudFone, Gatorade, Panasonic, Rexona, PLDT and Smart will serve as official partners while SM Mall of Asia an Spalding are supporting partners. Official NBA broadcasters for the event are ABS-CBN S+A, Basketball TV, and NBA Premium TV. (Roderick Osis)