JOSEPH Eriobu played the hero’s role as the Gilas Pilipinas 3×3 men’s squad scored a thrilling 21-19 decision over Jordan yesterday to launch its bid on a high in the FIBA 3×3 Asia Cup qualifying draw at the Marina Bay Sands Event Plaza in Singapore.
The hardworking Eriobu boomed in the game-winning two-pointer for the PBA-backed dribblers who also battled Indonesia in Group C at press time last night.
Propped up by PBA 3×3 Third Conference grand champion Almond Vosotros, Lervin Flores and Samboy de Leon of TNT and Eriobu of runner-up Purefoods, the team needed to beat the Indons last night to advance to the 12-squad main draw.
Vosotros scattered 11 points on five deuces, while Eriobu chipped in six markers.
De Leon and Flores added two points each for the Lester Del Rosario-mentored Gilas side.
The Gilas 3×3 women’s squad made it a big double, ripping Jordan 21-9.
Afril Bernardino showed the way for the Filipinas with seven points, while Khate Castillo also had seven markers spiked by two deuces.
Trina Guytingco sank two two-pointers to finish with five points for the Pat Aquino-mentored belles.
The win sent Jordan packing after it lost to Thailand 7-16 earlier and kept alive the title hopes of the Filipina 3×3 cagers.
Gilas 3×3 women tangled with the fancied Thais in a do-or-die duel at press time last night.
With Vosotros leading the way, the nationals led 18-14 before the Jordanians knotted the count at 18-all behind Ahmad Hassooneh and Caden Alnajdawi.
But De Leon scored on a jumper before Hassooneh forged another deadlock.
Eriobu then sealed the win with a backbreaking basket.
Towering Alnajdawi paced Jordan with 10 points.
Gilas 3×3 men is bidding to rebound from the failed golden drive of the Limitless-backed team in the last Southeast Asian Games in Hanoi last May, where it settled for the bronze after winning it all in the Manila Games three years ago. — Michael Jugado
