Zoos Tokyo proved once again why it remains at the pinnacle of women’s 3×3 basketball, clinching back-to-back championships in the Manila Hustle 3×3 Season 3 on Sunday at the SM Mall of Asia Music Hall.
Led by tournament Most Valuable Player Ama Degbeon, the Japanese powerhouse fended off a spirited challenge from Spain’s Panthers 3×3, securing a 17-13 victory in the final.
Degbeon, the world’s 55th-ranked player, ignited Zoos Tokyo’s early 6-2 burst and anchored the team’s defense to keep the Panthers at bay.
Maya Tahira delivered the knockout blow with a clutch basket, stretching the lead to 15-9 with 1:50 remaining and dashing any hopes of a late Spanish comeback.
“This year was a lot different, but I think we’re still the same Zoos team. Same team, same philosophy,” said Degbeon, who was joined by Miran Kikuchi and Fatoumanana Nishi in place of Season 2 MVP Aoi Katsura.
Zoos Tokyo took home the USD4,000 cash prize and an invitation to the WKBL Triple Jam later this year.
Panthers 3×3, featuring FIBA 3×3 Women’s Series veteran Saicha Grant-Allen, Paris Olympian Kacie Bosch, and Christina Buttenham, settled for the runner-up spot and a USD2,500 prize.
Grant-Allen’s dominance in the paint and Ari Geli’s sharpshooting kept the Panthers in the hunt, but Zoos Tokyo’s composure sealed the win.
Degbeon, Grant-Allen, and Gilas Pilipinas 3×3 Women’s Camille Clarin were named to the tournament’s Mythical Three.
Gilas Pilipinas 3×3 Women capped off their impressive tournament run with a bronze-medal finish, defeating Tokyo BB, 20-12.
Camille Clarin took charge, scoring 11 points to lead the national squad past their Japanese counterparts.
“Considering that this is our first tournament of the year and we made it to the podium, it means that it’s a great start for us,” said Clarin.
The national team, which also featured Jhaz Joson, Hazelle Yam, and Mikka Cacho, pocketed USD1,500 for their efforts.
Their performance was particularly commendable as they were the last Philippine team standing among seven local squads in the 16-team field.
Gilas Women’s road to the podium was anything but easy.
The Nationals edged out Korea’s Dinoman Hansol, 21-15, in the quarterfinals, with Mikka Cacho sinking the game-winning layup with 45.2 seconds left.
However, their title hopes were dashed in the semifinals when they fell to the red-hot Panthers 3×3, 18-11, as Grant-Allen’s dominance and Geli’s clutch shooting proved too much to overcome.
Meanwhile, the Gilas Pilipinas 3×3 U23 squad put up a valiant fight in their thriller against Panthers 3×3 but fell short, 21-20.
Kristine Cayabyab had a chance to win it for the young Filipinas, but her corner two-pointer just missed its mark.
Despite the loss, the U23 team, composed of Cayabyab, Cielo Pagdulagan, Elaine Etang, and Season 1 Most Outstanding Player Kacey Dela Rosa, showed promise on the international stage.
The road to the championship saw intense battles. Zoos Tokyo advanced to the final after overcoming Tokyo BB, 18-14, in the semis.
On the other side, Panthers 3×3 eliminated Gilas Women, riding on a hot start and holding off a late rally.
Uratex Tibay and Uratex Dream carried the Philippine flag deep into the tournament.
Uratex Tibay, led by Japanese imports Shinobu Yoshitake and Yumi Takakuwa, stormed past Jumpshot Singapore, 19-12, to book a quarterfinal clash against Zoos Tokyo.
Uratex Dream, powered by the country’s top-ranked 3×3 player Kaye Pingol, locked horns with Panthers 3×3 in the other quarterfinal matchup.
In individual competitions, Thai star Junny Udomsuk of Jumpshot Singapore ruled the Two-Point Shootout, besting Zoos Tokyo’s Miran Kikuchi and 14 others.
Meanwhile, David Carlos stole the spotlight in the Slam Dunk Contest, outshining Ashon Andrews and Aldous Torculas with high-flying jams.
Celebrity judges Alyssa Valdez, Jared Dillinger, and DJ Bigboy Cheng provided the scores for the crowd-pleasing event.
