TNT, Cavitex test mettle in maiden Asia Tour 3x3 tilt

The TNT Tropang Giga 3x3 and Cavitex Braves will look to test their mettle when the two squads lead six Philippine teams in the inaugural Asia Tour 3x3 in Manila this weekend at SM Mall of Asia Music Hall.

TNT and Cavitex, two teams hailing from the PBA 3x3 tourney, will compete against some of the best three-a-side clubs in the region with their compatriots Happy Hotels, Gameville, Demigod, and Zamboanga Valientes also set to see action.

The Mau Belen-mentored TNT squad will be bannered by Samboy de Leon, Ping Exciminiano, Gryann Mendoza, and Beninese import Raoul Odou. Tonino Gonzaga joins Kenneth Ighalo, Marion Magat, and Dominick Fajardo for Cavitex while Keith Datu, Nico Salva, Yutien Andrada, and TH Tumalip banner Happy Hotels.

Gameville will have Ryan Monteclaro and Mike Nzeusseu, Demigod will lean on Paolo Hubalde and Chris de Chavez, and Zamboanga Valientes has Chibueze Ikeh up front.

Club teams across the region such as the Singapore Lions, Vietnam Red & Gold, and Harimau Malaysia will also compete with the latter fielding two teams.

Pool A is composed of Zamboanga, Gameville, and Harimau A; Pool B has Happy Hotel, Demigod, and Rising Star; Pool C has Cavitex, VN Red & Gold, and Singapore Lions; and Pool D is comprised of TNT, The Performance Lab, and Harimau B.

The top-seeded teams in each group will earn an outright quarterfinals berth while the second- and third-ranked teams will play in a crossover knockout stage to advance to the final eight.

Winners then advance to the semifinals and the championship game, with the champion taking home the USD 10,000 cash prize.

—Bea Micaller/JMB, GMA Integrated News