KAYE Pingol’s superwoman effort was in full display anew as she steered Uratex Dream to the championship of WMovement’s First 3×3 Elite Invitational Tournament over the weekend at Veacon Hope Sports Center in Caloocan.
The No. 6-ranked women’s 3×3 player in the country was unstoppable in her side’s 21-14 finals victory over Titans, putting up 15 big points as she bucked a left ankle sprain.
“Laban lang. Yun lang ang nasa isip namin. Kahit natalo kami dun sa huling laro namin sa group stage, alam naming na may pag-asa pa rin kami at kailangan lang bumawi,” said Pingol who was adjudged as the MVP of the tourney.
Sam Harada added six points in the conquest, including the game-sealing free throw with 2:04 to play to come away with the P25,00 cash prize.
“Talagang pinakita ng girls yung character nila kaya we’re very proud of them,” said Uratex Dream team owner Peachy Medina, who also lauded the efforts of Mikka Cacho and Tina Deacon. “Kahit may mga na-injure sa kanila, hindi sila nag-give up.”
Snow Penaranda led the Titans with seven points as she was joined by Hazelle Yam, Mary Joy Galicia, and Khate Castillo. They took home P15,000 as runner-up in this tilt supported by Uratex Foam and B’lue Philippines.
It was still a performance to remember for Titans which stunned favored Lady Macbeth Riots, bannered by national team members Afril Bernardino, Malia Bambrick, Gabi Bade, Louna Ozar, and Camille Nolasco, in the semifinals, 21-15.
My Philippines, which had Clare Castro, Allana Lim, Raiza Palmera-Dy, and Monique del Carmen, topped Pool B before falling to eventual champion Uratex Dream, 18-10, in the other semis pairing of the tourney which also has Koneksiyon Bistro Café and KantiGo Scoreboards as minor sponsors.
Nonetheless, WMovement co-founder Mariana Lopa deemed the event a success, saying, “That’s the thing with the women’s basketball community, they always show up. And we’re very happy with the level of competition that we witnessed.”
