Region 4A, representing the provinces of Batangas, Cavite, Laguna, Quezon, and Rizal, displayed that they are a rising force in the Philippine basketball landscape when their Under-16 squad bagged their third consecutive Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas Under-16 Pambansang Tatluhan at the Harrison Plaza in Manila.
Region 4A’s Ley Acosta hit the game-ending triple with 1:52 to play, 21-16, dispatching tough Region 11 from Davao City for an incredible three-peat in the annual age-group 3×3 competition.
The balanced inside and out game with Twin Towers Jan Rae Atienza and Jan Derick Villarez and the sweet shooting of Ley Acosta were more than enough to hold off a Davao squad that was led by John Rey Pasaol, the younger brother of University of the East star, Alvin Pasaol, and the undersized Wilfred Remollo.
“I think our winning three straight SBP Under-16 3×3 titles says we are doing something right in the region,” said one of Region 4A’s program head Oliver Bunyi who played with La Salle in the UAAP and served as a part of the first Smart Gilas national team program. “The cooperation between our provincial partners has been incredible. This is for them.”
Region 4A’s Jan Derick Villarez also credited the win to two of his three other teammates who are all with him playing for Lyceum of the Philippines University Laguna. “Malaking tulong na kami nila Acosta and Darrell Capaceta mag-teammate na. Alam namin ang bawat galaw namin.”
The other player of the winning R4A team not with LPU’s Laguna program is Atienza who plays for Stonyhurst Southville International School.
In the Girls’ bracket, the girls of Region 10 representing Bukidnon / CDO stopped cold the hot-shooting Charity Grace Gicana who carried her Region 6 (Bacolod) team in the two-day competition.
Early in the game, it seemed that Pangasinan would lose Cheska Apag who was cramping up. Apag was a tower inside for her side while teammate Aloha Marie Betanio sizzled from the outside and made teams pay for her interior incursions. Incredibly, Apag returned, scored inside after which Betanio strung up four straight points to give her side a huge 10-6 lead. With Gicana unable to find the bottom of the net, Bacolod floundered badly as Bukidnon ran away with the title, 16-6.
Summarizing the podium finishes in the boys’ division, Region 4A bagged first place, Region 11 finished second while NCR North finished third.
Over the girls’ division, Region 10 reigned supreme while Region 6 and Region 1 finished second and third respectively.
“We are thrilled by the participation we received from all our SBP members in our Pambansang Tatluhan program,” declared federation Executive Director Renauld “Sonny” Barrios during the two-day event. “The level of interest for both 3×3 grassroots and women’s basketball has greatly increased and we have seen this where the players are more skilled and the games, more competitive.”
He added: “The SBP is looking to strengthen the national 3×3 program and as a result, SBP President Al Panlilio has appointed Ronaldo Magsanoc as the SBP 3×3 National Program Head. Magsanoc’s experience in local and international basketball is extensive and can only help the program improve to global standards.”
