SHINJUKU Givers took home the inaugural Cebu Hustle 3×3 crown, running away from undermanned Uratex Dream with a methodical 21-8 domination in the finals on Sunday at SM Seaside City. Esther Ibeh got things going before Yumi Takakuwa went berserk as the Japanese club went on a blazing 9-0 start and never looked back.
Takakuwa, a former Uratex Dream import, dropped six points while Ibeh was unstoppable with her seven markers and five rebounds to take home the Tournament MVP honors as Shinjuku secured the USD 3,000 cash prize.
“We fought from the beginning until the end and I’m very happy that we got the win and I got to show my skill,” said the Nigerian center who admitted it was her first time playing 3×3 basketball.
She was joined in the Mythical Three by Uratex Dream’s Renzhu Li and CT Tigers’ Kiri Endo.
Mizuno Naho added four points as Milai Mori sealed the triumph with a booming corner deuce with 1:31 to spare in this tilt which has Uratex, Smart, and Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas as presenters.
It also completed a perfect run for the Givers after topping Pool A in day one and overcoming fellow Japanese team Maurice Lacroix, 14-9, in the quarterfinals and a thrilling 21-19 win over Endo and the CT Tigers of Thailand in the semis.
Still, there’s no shame for the Dream’s showing as Li put the team on her back with four points including the jumper which broke the ice for the Philippine team with 7:11 to play.
Kaye Pingol also had to gut it out for her three points, while Sam Harada had one as they settled for the USD 2,000 prize in this tourney which has Aboitiz Food, SM Seaside City, Citadines Cebu City, Titan, Maxime, Pocari Sweat, University of Cebu, University of Cebu Medical Center, and SBP Zone 8 as partners.
Uratex had to play with just three players in the championship game after losing Angel Surada in its pulsating 13-12 semifinal win over Pilipinas Aguilas in overtime.
It also mirrored the Dream’s bridesmaid finish in Manila Hustle 3×3 Season 4 last February, also falling to Japanese club Flowlish Gunma, as they remain in the hunt for their first Hustle title.
CT Tigers also completed the podium with a thrilling 15-12 win over Pilipinas Aguilas.
Endo, who also won the Two-Point Shootout, made sure that her Thai club won’t come home empty handed as she fired six points and four assists, including the huge jumper that gave them the 13-11 lead in the final minute and bag USD 1,000 in this tilt which has Nustar Resort Cebu, Molten, Shakey’s, Virginia Foods, Seiko, and IPI as sponsors.