By Jerome Lagunzad
Jummel Perdido drilled the game-winning basket as Team Tenorio-Davao outlasted Team Jamito-Nueva Ecija, 18-16, in overtime to reign supreme in the 2018 Ginebra San Miguel 3×3 Tapang ng Tatluhan National Finals at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum over the weekend.
Perdido tallied seven points, including the title-clinching long ball, to emerge as the tournament Most Valuable Player and help his side take home P50,000 cash prize and the bragging rights as this year’s 3×3 basketball kings.
Perdido’s brother, Jayven, chipped in five points, the same output of Alexzan Pamugas, while Mark John Luceno scored a solitary point for the Davao-based team, which played early on and trailed by as many as three points, the last at 7-10.
But the Davaoeños tightened up the defensive screws on the Novo Ecijanos before Pamugas knocked down a crucial two-pointer that tied things up at 15-apiece.
Team Jamito-Nueva Ecija had a chance to win it as Nelson Caduco trooped to the line, but he missed both of his foul shots, giving Team Tenorio-Davao a golden opportunity which it readily pounced on.
Joel Cabunoc finished with eight points while Caduco added six points, Alexander Satunda had two and Rogelio Raqueno went scoreless for Team Jamito-Nueva Ecija which consoled itself with P25,000 consolation prize.
This grassroots program of Ginebra San Miguel is aimed on opening doors for these aspiring athletes to chase their dreams of one day being the next basketball superstar.
This marked the second consecutive year of the partnership between Ginebra San Miguel and the Philippine Basketball Association in helping promote and develop this new Olympic sport of 3×3 basketball.
