Berkeley tops U16 NBA 3x3 Philippines
JR. NBA National Training Camp finalists Jan Zyrus De Ayre and Ethan Rodelas fuelled Berkeley School of Baguio as it edge Makati Basketball to win the Boys Under 16 during the national finals of the NBA 3X Philippines 2017.
De Ayre and Rodelas got a huge lift from Larry Nicholas Atos and Raigne Elijah Serrano to win the national crown in the event presented by AXA which reached an all-time high in popularity this year with increased participation from Metro Manila and provincial teams joining the various age group categories of the seven-year old 3-on-3 basketball tournament.
“We did not win the last time we joined so that was our motivation to win the
tournament although all the team really worked hard and never gave up,” said the grade 10 De Ayre.
Berkeley’s Rodelas added it was a tough contest all throughout the competition but it was their determination that won them the championship.
Atos and Serrano added it was their intensity and defense that won them the title against a tough Makati squad.
“It’s not always about winning but it’s all about improving yourself,” added the Grade 8, 5’11 Atos.
“We just didn’t gave up and we gave our best every game,” quipped Serrano.
In the Under 13 category, Berkeley made it to the finals as it went toe-to-toe against De La Salle Zobel but fell short against their Manila counterpart.
University of Baguio likewise made it to the finals of the Girl’s Under-18 Division but Team Bulacan relied on Cindi Gonzales’s steadyplay in the paint and deft ball distribution to win the day.
Escuela de Sophia dominated the Boys Under-18 division and edged out schoolmates EDSCI by nailing crucial two-pointers that to secure the lead and the victory.
The Men’s Open division saw Team Ro ca n from Valenzuela, Bulacan winning the crown with Christian Chua, Mark Fernandez, Elmer de la Cruz, and Philip Torres outhustling Team 459 Legaspi from Colegio San Juan de Letran in a closely fought game.
National University (NU)-A meanwhile topped the Women’s Open Division with Trixie Antiquiera, Ria Joy Nabalan, Samantha Harada, and Rhena Itesi, besting their teammates on the opposing NU-B squad. Both teams play for the NU women’s basketball team that has dominated UAAP women’s basketball for three consecutive seasons.
In the Celebrity Division, Team Uy, Uy, Uy headlined by sports analyst Dominic Uy, PBA legend and coach Vince Hizon, as well as coach and sports analyst Charles Tiu topped Mongrel Mob, starring ex-PBA player Mark Andaya, TV host Bobby Yan and actor Neil Sese for the crown.
In the Individual categories, Billion Enriquez from Zamboanga is AXA Three-Point Shootout Champion; Brian Agarin of Cubao, Panasonic Master Three-Point Contest Champion; Alexis Ramos of Tanauan, Batangas, Cloudfone Shoot-Solve-Selfie Challenge champion; and Shekel Estrelles of Caloocan, Globe Do It Different Three-Point Challenge champion. In the AXA Shoot For A Cause challenge, free-throw shooters raised P70,000 worth of free throws for Tahanang Walang Hagdan. Roderick Osis