BOTH fielding drastically overhauled line-ups, the Gilas 3×3 Men and Women teams are aching to prove their worth.
The two Philippine squads launch their campaign today in the FIBA 3×3 Asia Cup at the picturesque Marina Bay Sands Event Plaza in Singapore.
The quartet of Almond Vosotros, Lervin Flores and Samboy De Leon of PBA 3×3 Third Conference grand champion TNT and Joseph Eriobu of runner-up Purefoods battle Jordan at 10:50 a.m. and Indonesia nearly 10 hours after.
Gilas 3×3 Men is bidding to atone for the failed golden drive of the Limitless-backed team in the last Southeast Asian Games in Hanoi last May, settling for the bronze after winning it all in the Manila Games three years ago.
The women’s side is made up of Afril Bernardino, the only returning player from the last SEA Games squad that crashed out of the podium; Camille Clarin, Khate Castillo and Trina Guytingco.
The Gilas belles take on Jordan at 3:20 o’clock and Thailand at 6:50 p.m.
The 5-foot-10 Clarin, one of the gunners of the team, said Gilas Women coach Pat Aquino wants them to hurdle formidable Thailand.
“What he (Aquino) has been preaching is that we have to beat Thailand. I think that’s been our main goal since the start. We already matched up with Jordan before in a couple of scrimmages last year when we played in the Asia Cup, so we know how they play,” Clarin said. — Michael Jugado
