MANILA – The Philippines’ 3×3 teams will be banking on hometown fans as they compete in the FIBA 3×3 World Cup starting Friday at the Philippine Arena in Bocaue, Bulacan.
The women’s team – National University Lady Bulldogs’ Afril Bernardino, Jack Daniel Animan and Gemma Miranda, and Centro Escolar University Lady Scorpions’ Janine Pontejos – will immediately be tested Friday with a pair of matches.
It will start its campaign against Netherlands at 2:50 p.m. followed by a game against Germany at 6:40 p.m.
The Philippines will return to action on June 10 against Spain (4:20 p.m.) and Hungary (7 p.m.).
“Other countries don’t know how we play,” said women’s team head coach Patrick Aquino.
He added: “They’ve been playing world 3-on-3 for the past few years but they haven’t seen the Philippines, so that’s one advantage that we have.
“The advantage is we haven’t been scouted yet also, and they don’t know the talent that we have also.
“So I think it’s a great feeling, being an underdog and especially having a team like this that can perform, and hopefully we can take that advantage.”
The men’s team – San Miguel Beermen’s Christian Standhardinger, TNT KaTropa’s Jeth Troy Rosario and Roger Pogoy, and GlobalPort Batang Pier guard Stanley Pringle – will plunge into action on Saturday.
Mentored by Ronnie Magsanoc, the squad will begin its campaign on June 9 against Brazil (3:10 p.m.) and Mongolia (6:40 p.m.). On June 11 it will face off with Canada (4:50 p.m.) and Russia (7 p.m.).
“I am hoping that this group can compete with teams who are all regular campaigners in the 3-on-3 World Tour,” Magsanoc said. “Almost all the teams, iyong mga players nila, trabaho talagang lumaro ng 3-on-3.”/PN
