Jordan Bartlett came through in the clutch as HoopBus HCG captured the inaugural 2026 MelMac Sports 3×3 Invitational Championship powered by Smart Sports with a thrilling 21-17 victory over Taho Story on Sunday night at MelMac Sports.
Bartlett ignited HoopBus HCG’s decisive 7-2 closing run, scoring six of his eight points in the final stretch. His biggest basket came with 21 seconds remaining, as he attacked the rim and finished over the outstretched arms of Jimwell Ocampo to seal the championship.
The 5-foot-10 De La Salle University guard led HoopBus HCG back from a 14-15 deficit, capping the team’s unbeaten run in the tournament and securing the P100,000 champion’s prize.
Billy Baptist and AJ Benson chipped in six points apiece, while Carlo De Chavez added one marker.
Taho Story, meanwhile, settled for the P50,000 runner-up prize after an impressive Cinderella run that exceeded expectations.
Ike Akpuru paced Taho Story with nine points in the finals, while Ocampo added six. Michael Macaballug scored two points, while Nikki Monteclaro was held scoreless.
Despite finishing fourth in Pool A with a 3-2 record, Taho Story authored the tournament’s biggest upset in the quarterfinals by stunning top-seeded Pool B team Zark’s Burgers, 14-8. Zark’s fielded a star-studded lineup of Mac Tallo, Alvin Pasaol, JR Alabanza, and Gian Abrigo.
The squad then defeated HCG MNL Kingpin, 21-13, in the semifinals to book its place in the championship game.
Earlier, L.A.D Basketball salvaged third place after overpowering a fatigued HCG MNL Kingpin side, 21-14, with 8:27 left on the game clock.
L.A.D Basketball, which finished second in Pool B with a 4-1 record, survived a tough 20-18 quarterfinal clash against Maharlika Foods before falling to eventual champion HoopBus HCG, 21-18, in the semifinals.
JP Sarao led the bronze medalists with eight points, while Jey Mark Mallari and Lester Quicho contributed six and five, respectively, as L.A.D Basketball claimed the P30,000 third-place prize.
HCG MNL Kingpin was led by Kit Aviso and Fubara White, who scored four points each.
Beyond crowning its first champion, the tournament also underscored MelMac Sports’ vision of helping revive the local 3×3 basketball scene by providing a platform for both established and emerging players.
MelMac Sports founder Mel Macasaquit thanked the Villar Group, represented by mall head Jeff Ventura, Smart Sports, and the tournament’s supporters for helping turn his vision into reality.
“My passion—really, my obsession—for 3×3 basketball inspired me to build this multi-sports facility,” said Macasaquit. “With the Villar Group and all of your support, we’re continuing to expand because we want to create more opportunities for athletes and help elevate the local 3×3 basketball scene.”
Macasaquit also revealed that MelMac Sports continues to broaden its reach beyond basketball.
Earlier in the day, its FIFA-standard football field at Villar City hosted its first-ever activity through G8 Academy, another milestone in the complex’s expansion.
“We’re not stopping with basketball,” he said. “Today, our FIFA-standard football field welcomed its first activity with G8 Academy, and we’re also expanding with Planet MelMac, our restaurant. We hope you’ll continue supporting us as we keep building a home for sports in the community.”
With the successful staging of its inaugural 3×3 Invitational and continued investment in world-class facilities, MelMac Sports hopes to further strengthen the grassroots sports scene while establishing itself as one of the country’s emerging hubs for basketball and other sporting events.
The Scores:
Championship:
HoopBus HCG 21 – Bartlett 8, Baptist 6, Benson 6, De Chavez 1
Taho Story 17 – Akpuru 9, Ocampo 6, Macaballug 2, Monteclaro 0
Battle for third:
L.A.D Basketball 21 – Sarao 8, Mallari 6, Quicho 5, Villapando 2
HCG MNL Kingpin 14 – Aviso 4, White 4, Tadena 3, Price 3
