Gilas Pilipinas Women’s 3×3 showed Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas 3×3 that they got game as well.
But it was the duo of Janine Pontejos and Afril Bernardino who shone the brightest, towing Gilas White to a 21-15 (8:37) in a special exhibition game held at the SM Megamall Events Center.
The duo, who were part of the World Cup team that competed in the 2018 edition of the global meet, both had seven points in this contest that had PHP 20,000 awarded to the winner.
“I’m just happy that we are finally being recognized by Chooks-to-Go. Hopefully, we put on a good show,” said SBP Women’s Program Director Patrick Aquino.
Gilas White went off to a blistering 7-0 start that paved the way to a 15-7 lead with 2:58 left after a Gemma Miranda deuce.
Though the troika of Ria Nabalan, Khate Castillo, and Tina Deacon was able to chip the lead down to four, 15-19, with 1:32 remaining, Pontejos stopped the comeback by knocking down the game-winning deuce nine seconds later.
Chack Cabinbin and Miranda had four and three markers, respectively, for Gilas White.
Nabalan paced Gilas Blue with six markers while Castillo chipped in four. Deacon and Snow Penaranda had three and two markers, respectively.
After the game, Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas 3×3 league owner Ronald Mascariñas disclosed that the 2020 season of the league will have a women’s division as well.
“Gilas Women showed that their style of basketball is not just on par with the men’s — it’s even more exciting,” he opined. “That is why starting next season, Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas 3×3 will have a women’s division as well.”
In the First Eight games of the Magiting Cup, Narvacan Partas, Mindoro Tamaraws, Crossovr Magma Bicol, and Zamboanga Valientes MLV advanced to the quarterfinals.
The Scores:
Gilas White 21 – Pontejos 7, Bernardino 7, Cabinbin 4, Miranda 3.
Gilas Blue 15 – Nabalan 6, Castillo 4, Deacon 3, Penaranda 2.
