Gilas girls lead local bets in Manila Hustle

Gilas Pilipinas Women will be one of the seven local teams looking to defend the home turf at the Manila Hustle 3x3 Season 3 on 8 and 9 February at the SM Mall of Asia Music Hall.

Bannered by Camille Clarin and Jhaz Joson, the national women’s team is motivated to carry the flag in the 16-team field.

But they will not alone as world No. 57 Kaye Pingol teams up with Afril Bernardino for the Uratex Dream, who aim to make a bigger mark in the tilt, while last year’s runner-up Titans will be out for redemption with Trina Guytingco pairing up with Stefanie Berberabe.

Veteran gunner Janine Pontejos will also spearhead Army Altama, as New Zealand Blue Fire, Uratex Tibay and Gilas Pilipinas Women U23 complete the Filipino cast.

The job, however, won’t be easy.

Reigning champion Zoos Tokyo, led by last year’s Most Valuable Player Aoi Katsura, is seeking for back-to-back crowns in the tilt that is co-presented by Uratex, Smart, and Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas.

Eight more foreign squads are expected to give the local squads a run for their money as they all fight for the $4,000 cash prize that also includes a ticket to the WKBL 3x3 tournament in Korea.

The runner-up will take home $2,500, while the third placer will get $1,000.