Manila, Philippines, – Last July 6, 2014 the threat of a typhoon did not keep away the crowds who were rewarded with a thrilling finish to the fourth consecutive NBA 3X Philippines 2014 presented by Sprite.
The Team EGS Elite, the underdogs last year, dominated RTU this year to rule the Men’s Open Division and score a back to back in this 3x3 tournament that started July 4 and ended Sunday, July 6.
The NU Lady Bulldogs women’s varsity players, meanwhile, held off the fighting Tigresses of the University of Santo Tomas to make their mark in the Women’s Open Division.
The Members of the men and women’s champion teams were rewarded by official event partner adidas with the chance to take part in the adidas Grab for Charity where they could grab all the adidas merchandise they wanted at the SM Mall of Asia adidas store within a 33 second period. The NBA donated PhP 220,000 to World Vision Philippines – doubling the value of the products the participants managed to gather.
Earlier in the day, mall goers got to see their favorite movie and television personalities play mean 3x3 basketball. Entertainment biggies and sports celebs like Derek Ramsey, Aljur Abrenica, Fabio Ide, Will Devaugn, Rovilson Frnandez, Joross Gamboa, Luis Alandy, Bobby Yan, Ervic Vijandre, KC Montero, Vince Hizon, Rio de la Cruz and other showbiz and fashion celebrities showed off their hardcourt talents.
Team Alcaraz, made up of GMA star Marco Alcaraz, Ervic Vijandre, Jack Sarasola and Luis Alandy defended the Celebrity Division title which it won last year. The team, made up of GMA stars defeated Team Rejects made up of Bobby Yan, James Christopher, Robin Da Roza and David Carlos and firmed up their ownership of this division with another back-to-back.
David Carlos, last year’s Sprite Slam Dunk champion, made his stamp in this event highlight by getting 10’s from judges DeMar DeRozan, Wesley Johnson, a Toronto Dance Pak member, Barry del Rosario, Sprite Brand Group Manager and Carlo Singson, NBA Asia Country Manager, Philippines. Carlos wowed the crowd with a stuff into the basket over the heads of two players.
In the Under-13 Boys Division, Grace Christian defeated AMA Kids with solid play, while the Animo Greenies of La Salle Greenhills, anchored by Andre Duremdes, son of ex-PBA player Kenneth Duremdes, made teamwork their main weapon against RP Growee in the Under-16 Division.
The Women's Under-16 division meanwhile was won by the gritty Infoshare Eagles of Los Baños, Laguna. AMA Jrs. scored a three-peat in the Men’s Under-18 Division. In the same division for women, FEU Team V struck gold on their very first try in NBA 3X by beating Cays Blue Whales.
From the tipoff last Friday until Sunday, NBA players DeMar DeRozan of the Toronto Raptors and Wesley Johnson of the Los Angeles Lakers graced the events and interacted with Pinoy basketball fans together with the Raptors Dance Pak and Slamson the Lion, the mascot of the Sacramento Kings. The NBA celebrities threw NBA items to the crowd, getting squeals of delight from the basketball-loving Pinoys.
NBA 3X Philippines 2014 presented by Sprite was also highlighted by an NBA Cares fun basketball clinic for 25 athletes of the Special Olympics. DeMar DeRozan and Chris Sumner, Specialist, Basketball Operations of NBA Asia, together with the Raptors Dance Pak and Slamson the Lion treated the kids to fun basketball games and drills.
The Naismith Trophy, FIBA’s ultimate trophy for the World Cup, was also on display at the NBA 3X event to serve as an inspiration to all Filipino basketball players and basketball fans as the country prepares for its historic participation in the FIBA World Cup in Spain come August.
Other fan activities like the KFC Bucket 3-point Shootout; the Phoenix Fast Feet Challenge and NBA Half Time kept the crowd entertained and involved in the action.
Along with presenting partner Sprite, official partners of NBA 3X Philippines 2014 include adidas, Smart Communications and PLDT, KFC and Phoenix Petroleum, with Acer and Spalding serving as supporting partners. Official NBA broadcasters are ABS-CBN Sports + Action and Basketball TV.
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