TNT Triple Giga reigns supreme in Asia Tour 3x3; Uratex Dream finishes third on women's side

The TNT Triple Giga claimed the inaugural Asia Tour 3x3 men's division title on Sunday after taking down The Performance Lab Vietnam, 19-18, in the Finals at the Mall of Asia Music Hall.

Beninese big man Raoul Odou delivered the game winning shot for TNT, which was playing sans Samboy de Leon who was injured with six minutes left on the clock.

Ping Exciminiano tallied 10 points and was named the tournament's Most Valuable Player, while Gryann Mendoza had four as the Triple Giga won the USD 10,000 cash prize.

Prior to the Finals, TNT took down Happy Hotels, 21-13, in the quarters and Cavitex, 21-18, in the semis. Cavitex settled for a third place finish after a dominant win against VN Red & Gold, 21-4.

On the women's side, Uratex Dream reached the semis of the tournament. For the team, it was a good showing as they proved that they can go against Asia's best in 3x3 basketball.

“Nakakatuwa din kasi club team kami pero nakakasabay kami sa mga national teams. Magandang feeling yun and I think we can inspire more to play and continue to raise the level of women’s basketball in the Philippines,” said team owner Peachy Medina.

("It's good because we're a club team but we can hang with the national teams. It's a good feeling and I think we can inspire more to play and continue to raise the level of women’s basketball in the Philippines.")

Kaye Pingol said they will work harder to improve, especially with an invitational tournament in Korea coming in June.

“Kulang pa. Higher pa ang goal namin at alam naming marami pa kaming mai-improve pa,” said Pingol, the leader of the team which had Sam Harada, Shanda Anies, and Eunique Chan.

("It's not enough. We have a higher goal and we know we have a lot of room for improvement.")

But for Medina, "Third place isn’t bad but our ambitions are greater than that.”

—Justin Kenneth Carandang/JMB, GMA Integrated News