By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña
After successfully staging the first Capiz Inter-Town basketball tournament in Roxas City, the On D’ Move (ODM) Sportswear once again filled Western Visayas with joy after their recently concluded 3×3 hoops competition in partnership with Wilson Sports Philippines.
Headed by ODM Sportswear owner and ODM Sports League commissioner Jeremiah Obera, the Wilson 3×3 basketball tournament was once again held in Western Visayas after four years.
A total of 80 teams vied for the championship title in four categories: 15-under, 17-under, 19-under, and the 21-under category.
All the 80 teams competed for two action-packed days, with the first one scheduled for all the elimination games while the second and last day featured the tournament’s playoffs.
For the 15-under category, team Rohen outworked CR Angels A for the championship title, 21-13, and was crowned as the kings of the Wilson Sports 3×3.
It was a nip-and-tuck affair in the first minutes of the duel as CR Angels grabbed a slim 4-3 lead but Rohen’s chemistry and foul-baiting tactic propelled them to the win.
Meanwhile, in the 17-under category, the Quatro Alas squad dominated team Bokings, 19-9, in a flawless display of 3×3 basketball.
It was also through the ODM x Wilson 3×3 event that teenage prospect Joss Matthew Poli was discovered and was a vital piece to Quatro Alas’ title run.
The six-foot-two youngster turned heads during the tournament and was quickly recruited from all over Western Visayas and even in Manila.
In the under-19 category, Team Zeem Phantom Elite reigned supreme after nipping the Batan Slashers in a back-and-forth game, 18-15.
From being down 9-13, the Phantom Elite quartet was quick to counter with their own run fueled by Elmer Malan’s hustle and aggressiveness going to the hole.
Saving the best for last, the 21-under category wowed the crowd after team RDDB Ballers edged team Fly High, 21-18, in a thrilling and physical championship game.
Former NCAA stalwart Raffy Arguelles led the way for team RDDB and became the team’s heart and soul when he took over in the clutch.
Aside from the presence of local sports enthusiasts and the ODM Sports management, Mr. Almond Cajefe, the Senior brand manager of Wilson Sports PH, was also there to grace the event.
All the winners and finalists received gift certificates from Chooks-to-Go, balls and prizes from Wilson Sports PH, and other freebies from ODM Sportswear.
