Kacey Dela Rosa. Handout photo.MANILA — Can the Manila Hustle 3x3 trophy return to our shores?
That's the main goal for the five local teams competing in Season 4 this Feb. 7 and 8 at SM Mall of Asia Music Hall as they try to protect home court in the Philippine women's 3x3 international invitational.
Gilas Pilipinas Suns and Stars spearhead the Philippine contingent in this 16-team field as they try to hoist the country's flag high and proud.
The Suns will be led by Season 1 MVP Kacey Dela Rosa as she teams up with Cheska Apag, Gabi Bade, and Mikka Cacho, while the Stars will be composed of Hazelle Yam, Tantoy Ferrer, Jamanah Meniano, and Amyah Espanol.
Pressure is on these ladies to deliver in this tournament, which has Uratex, Smart, and Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas as partners, as they try to start the year right for the national team which is seeking another fruitful campaign for the calendar year.
But they're not alone in this endeavor, with three other Philippine clubs carrying that weight.
Pilipinas Aguilas are set to make their debut featuring veterans in Jhaz Joson and Stefanie Berberabe, Camille Malagar, and naturalization candidate Elizabeth Means, while tournament pioneers Uratex Dream, led by Kaye Pingol, Afril Bernardino, Sam Harada, and Chinese center Renzhu Li, and Uratex Tibay, composed of CC Junsay, Justine Domingo, Mar Prado, and Singaporean reinforcement Kang Yi Tan, will try to make noise in the fourth iteration of this famed tilt.
Lady Macbeth Riots were the last Philippine team to win the crown way back in Season 1 behind dela Rosa, Trina Guytingco, Janine Pontejos, and Khate Castillo.
Zoos Tokyo of Japan is coming in as heavy favorites, winning the last two editions behind Season 3 MVP Ama Degbeon.
Up for grabs will be the USD4,000 cash prize for the champion, and more importantly a ticket to the 2026 FIBA 3x3 WSeries Shanghai Stop in May as Manila Hustle 3x3 has been considered as a FIBA 3x3 Women's Series Qualifier for the first time ever.
Other teams competing this year are debutants Flowlish Gunma of Japan, CTBC Unity Fire of Chinese Taipei, the New Zealand national team, Valencia Basket 3x3 of Spain and Southeast Asian teams Hanoi Basketball of Vietnam, Selangor EST Jersey of Malaysia, CT Tigers of Thailand, and the Singaporean national team, as well as returnees Hansol Remicon of Korea and Shoot It Dragons of Thailand.