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| NBA 3X Philippines 2023 Women's Open Division Champions University of Santo Tomas (UST) Women's Basketball Team A with 2006 NBA Champion Jason Williams and Houston Rockets Clutch City Dancers (Image Source: NBA.com Philippines) |
Adamson University and University of Santo Tomas (UST) Women’s Basketball Team A were named the Men’s and Women’s Open Division Champions respectively of NBA 3X Philippines presented by Mountain Dew which returned to Metro Manila for the first time since 2019. NBA 3X, the league’s 3-on-3 tournament featuring interactive fan activities and authentic NBA entertainment, culminated with the finals across divisions for boys (under-19 and open category), girls (under-19 and open category) and celebrity division on March 26, 2023. Staged at the SM Mall of Asia Music Hall in Pasay City, NBA 3X Philippines was headlined by 2006 NBA Champion Jason Williams and Houston Rockets Clutch City Dancers who both interacted with fans throughout the weekend.
Adamson University composed of Jhon Arthur Calisay, Aaron Flowers, Ivan Jay Maata, and Wilfrey Jr. Magbuhos defeated 5J Elite with a score of 22-10. Flowers, 24, was named the Mountain Dew ‘Bangis Ng Barkada’ MVP of the Men’s Open category. Flowers’ teammate Magbuhos emphasized the significance of hard work and dedication in achieving success. “Kailangan lang talaga ng sipag at tiyaga. That’s the secret to achieving your goals so you need to work hard and always be humble kahit saan ka man makarating.” In the Women’s Open, the UST-WBT Team A (Catherine Dionisio, Reynalyn Ferrer, Kent Pastrana, and Ana Mae Tacatac) outlasted Uratex Dream, 21-16. Women’s Open MVP Tacatac, 19, emphasized the importance of empowering women in sports. “We’re very happy and grateful for the opportunity na binigay sa amin na ipakita sa maraming tao yung talent namin as babae.”
For the Under-19 divisions, UST Basketball Girls (Kyla Laylo, Gin Kayla Relliquette, Karylle Sierba, and Clarisse Visto) came out on top against Baby Falcons, 21-8, in the Girls Under-19 category, while KMS Vikings Team 1 (John Denver Baluyot, Yeshua Espiritu, John Axel Mendoza, and Gabriel Nepacena) emerged victorious in a tightly contested match after beating EDSCI GK-A Caloocan, 21-20 in the Boys Under-19 category. Sierba, 18, and Espiritu, 18, were awarded with the MVP of the Girls and Boys Under-19 divisions, respectively. After an impressive showing of consistent team play and individual skill, Sierba talked about how basketball has always been her sport growing up. “Since bata palang po ako, ate ko po ang nagtuturo sa akin. Siya po ang nagturo din sa akin kung paano magtitiwala sa kakayahan ko sa basketball.” Additionally, the celebrity division featured local fan favorites and sports personalities competing against each other in exhibition games. Team Bente, which was comprised of Martin Reyes (former collegiate player), Martin Reyes (model), Chuck Ronquillo (artist) and Karl Santos (youth coach), won in regulation against Pure Business with a final score of 16-13. Former collegiate player Martin Reyes was named as the celebrity division MVP.
Throughout the weekend, fans had the opportunity to experience interactive booths of presenting partner Mountain Dew and official event partners AXA Philippines, Energen Champion, and foodpanda, and an augmented reality activation that allowed participants to shoot basketballs through a virtual hoop. “We’re extremely proud to have staged NBA 3X Philippines for the first time since 2019 and brought the Filipino community together in celebration of the game of basketball. Together with Mountain Dew, we’re grateful for the support of our partners, fans, and teams who displayed an incredible brand of basketball throughout the 3-on-3 tournament,” said NBA Philippines Senior Director for Global Marketing Partnerships Mae Dichupa.
Mountain Dew is available in supermarkets, groceries, convenience stores, and sari-sari stores nationwide in 8 oz to 1L glass bottles, 250 ml to 330 ml cans, and 290 ml to 2L PET bottles. For more information on Mountain Dew, visit www.mountaindew.com and their official social media channels on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. For all the latest NBA news and updates, fans in the Philippines can visit www.nba.com, download the NBA App, and follow the NBA on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and TikTok. NBA games and programming are available on TV5, One Sports and NBA TV Philippines and through NBA League Pass, the league’s premium live game subscription service which is available through leading digital services and telecommunications providers Globe, Smart and PLDT. Official NBA merchandise is available through the NBA Store at SM Megamall and NBAStore.com.ph, the official online NBA Store in the Philippines.
