Gilas women 3x3 gets much-needed preparation in Manila Hustle Season 3
MANILA, Philippines — Manila Hustle 3x3’s Season 3 tipping off this weekend will provide a big boost for the Gilas Pilipinas women’s squad that will compete in the FIBA 3x3 Asia Cup in March, coach Anton Altamirano said.
The Gilas women 3x3 squad will be competing in the Asia Cup slated from March 26-30.
But before that, they will face a tough task against a loaded Manila Hustle Group this weekend.
The national team is inserted in Pool D of the tourney, along with defending champions Zoos Tokyo, Harimau Malaysia and Spanish team Panthers 3x3.
At a press briefing on Monday, Altamirano told reporters that Manila Hustle will be their first tournament in preparation for the Asia Cup.
“With the competition level that is coming for this tournament, talagang it's a really good experience and preparation for us. So, we'll try to really [compete,] especially our group,” he said.
“So, it's a tall task, pero everything that we're doing here is part of our preparation for the FIBA Asia,” he added.
The Gilas women team is composed of the quartet of Jhaz Joson, Camille Clarin, Mikka Cacho and Hazelle Yam.
Yam, for her part, said that this is “a super good practice for us.”
“Kasi, syempre, here [in the country we can only compete with each other and how the Filipinos play Pero, siyempre, kailangan natin yung experience na how the other countries play para when we get there alam natin kung ano yung possible na ibato nila,” she stressed. “So, big help.”
World No. 55 Ama Degbeon will lead the defending champions Zoos, who will also field World No. 219 Maya Tahira, Miran Kikuchi and Fatoumanana Nishi.
The Panthers, on the other hand, will parade World No. 22 Kacie Bosch, World No. 136 Ari Geli, Christina Buttenham and Saicha Grant-Allen.
Bosch played for the Canada national team in the Paris Olympics.
Harimau Malaysia will feature Chong Hui Lin, Wong Chah Yee, Him Jia Wei and Yap Fook Yee.
Meanwhile, the Gilas U23 3x3 Women will also compete in the tourney. The squad, led by UAAP back-to-back Most Valuable Player Kacey dela Rosa, Elaine Etang, Kristine Cayabyab amd Cielo Pagdulagan, will be in Pool A with Army Altama, Dinoman Hansol and XD.
U23 head coach Ryan