By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña
The Zamboanga-based 3×3 squad that joined the Champions League Basketball 3×3 in Australia continued their consistent run and took down team after team to clinch the Australian 3×3 Portland Open tilt.
Entering the league as the champions in the first leg of the Champions League Basketball 3×3, the Zamboanga Valientes took control of the match against rivals Clippers and outlasted them to raise another trophy, 18-11.
Chris “Peng” Concepcion came up big once again for his squad after running the show for the PH representatives with eight points and tons of dimes that dazzled the spectators that came to see their epic finals.
Familiarity was also a huge factor for the win and their coaching staff did a good job against the Clippers whom they faced months ago in tightly-contested leg 1 finals.
The collective effort of Eric Miraflores and 6-foot-10 Sudanese-Australian Duom Dawan backstopped Concepcion’s splendid performance.
Zamboanga’s quick switching and efficient man-to-man defense also became an edge for them to grab the win as they were able to defend the paint and secure rebounds despite a slight disadvantage in size.
The prized 3×3 squad crushed the Try Hards in the first round, 14-6, squeaked past the Barber Boys, 17-14, took back momentum to demolish the Wannon Warriors, 22-14, and won by just two points against the Clippers, 12-10 to stay undefeated in Group A.
