THE queens of the court take their act to the Queen City of the South as Cebu Hustle 3×3 tips off this June 20 and 21. It’s the first ever staging of the international women’s 3×3 invitational in Cebu with 12 teams flexing their talents at SM Seaside City in this two-day extravaganza which not only focuses on the competition but also serves as a celebration of women’s basketball in the islands of the Visayas.
Gilas Pilipinas Women 3×3 U23 banner the six local teams with Louna Ozar and Amyah Espanol out to defend home court in this tournament which has Uratex, Smart, and the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas as presenters.
Also flying the country’s flag high and proud will be Uratex Dream, Pilipinas Aguilas, and TOL Patriots, as well as Cebuano squads UP Cebu Fighting Maroons and MOVE Lilo-an.
But getting it done won’t be easy, with six foreign teams also motivated to claim the inaugural title in this tilt which also has Aboitiz Food, SM Seaside City, Citadines Cebu City, Titan, Maxime, University of Cebu, University of Cebu Medical Center, and SBP Zone 8 as partners.
“Cebu Hustle 3×3 is such a breakthrough for women’s basketball for Cebu. After recent failed attempts to put up a women’s league, Cebu women’s basketball finally gets an avenue to showcase their talents and see what the best looks like,” said SBP Zone 8 director Popoy Navarro.
“The talent level of the tournament is a level that I’m very happy to see and I’m excited for our women and our fans to be exposed to what I believe is the best women’s 3×3 tournament in the country.”
The champion of the maiden staging of Cebu Hustle 3×3 will take home USD 3,000, with the runner-up USD 2,000, and the third placer USD 1,000.
Cebu Hustle 3×3 also has Nustar Resort Cebu, Molten, Pocari Sweat, Shakey’s, Virginia Foods, Seiko, and IPI as sponsors.