by Waylon Galvez
Games Today (Philippine Arena, Bocaue, Bulacan)
4:20 p.m. – PH vs Spain (women’s)
6:40 p.m. – PH vs Hungary (women’s)
BOCAUE, Bulacan – The element of surprise worked for national team as the Philippines stunned the sixth-seeded Brazil, 15-7, to start its campaign in the 2018 FIBA 3×3 World Cup at the Philippine Arena here.
Formed only last month, the national team took a comfortable 8-1 lead as Roger Pogoy converted from beyond the arc worth two points.
A layup on a crossover move by Stanley Pringle gave the national team its biggest lead at 11-2.
Brazil managed to trim the lead of the Philippines to five points, 11-6, but forward Troy Rosario burieda jumper and a free throw, while Pringle had a layup for a 14-6 advantage.
Rosario and Pogoy, teammates at TNT KaTropa in the PBA, and GlobalPort’s playmaker Pringle – in his first stint with the national team – all finished with four points, while Christian Standhardinger had three points.
The 6-foot-8 Standhardinger, the top pick of San Miguel Beer in last year’s PBA Rookie Draft, provided the inside presence despite health concerns due to a left knee injury.
“He didn’t practice for eight days, but he’s all in for this tournament,” said Philippines 3×3 head coach Ronnie Magsanoc, who only had less than a month to prepare the team.
Magsanoc commended the efforts of the players, considering that they are up against one of the top teams in the tournament but the Filipinos showed their resilience.
“The players want to win. We prepared really hard for this event despite the limitations of having little practice time, which we understand because they also play in the PBA,” said Magsanoc.
The national team will try to make it 2-0 in this tournament as it clashes with Mongolia late in the afternoon. The men’s squad plays Canada and Russia tomorrow in the final day of elimination round.
