Calabarzon bests Iloilo for SBP 3x3 U-18 title

MANILA, Philippines – The Region 4A (Calabarzon) team bucked an early deficit against Region 6 (Iloilo) to rule the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas 3x3 Under-18 National Championships at the Robinson’s Place, Manila last Sunday.

With his team down 7-3 early in the title game, Edmund Dela Cruz came off the bench and fired two triples that sandwiched a layup by Joshua Bongon as Calabarzon took an 8-7 lead they would not surrender.

Calabarzon looked like they were going to romp all the way to the trophy after leading 18-11 when Iloilo launched a stirring fight back that saw them score four straight points with a little over two minutes left. But CJ Austria scored on a putback to put Calabarzon at match-point should they hit a three. And Bongon did just that when he rifled in an open trey with 2:02 left in the clock to clinch the trophy and P50,000 prize.

Bongon topscored for his side with eight points while Dela Cruz added six.

Calabarzon went undefeated in five matches. They defeated Region 7 (Visayas), 18-12; Region 5 (Bicol), 21-14; and Region 5 (Bicol), 13-5, in the elimination round. Advancing to the quarterfinals, the Caviteños slipped past Region 1 (Ilocos), 22-16. In the semifinals, they ousted tournament favorite, Region 3 (Pampanga), 22-11, to book a finals seat against the Iloilo squad.

The Region 4A team is Cyrus John Austria (San Sebastian College Recoletos Manila), Joshua Bongon (St. Francis of Assisi College), as well as Edmund Dela Cruz and Gavin Umali (who both go to University of Perpetual Help System Dalta Molino Campus).

Region 4A also won last year’s SBP 3x3 Under-15 championship.

Finishing as first runner-up was Iloilo with Gian Paul Nahine, Wilmar Dalumpines, Ralph Bason, Kenth Chester Lindero. Region 2 (Cagayan Valley), which featured Genzi Justin Pascual, Jeremy Ian Mejia, Justine Prince Salvacion and Joshua Callo, finished as second runner-up.