Gilas Women, Uratex Dream reach semis in Singapore's 3x3 tourney
Gilas Pilipinas Women 3x3 and Uratez Dream fought hard and reached the semifinals of the Jumpshot 3x3 Season 2 in Singapore over the weekend.
Both Filipino teams exhibited great resilience in their matches but ultimately fell short in the Final Four.
Gilas Women made it tough for their opponents before losing to the eventual champions, Chuu of Thailand, 15-13.
Kaye Pingol rejoined the Nationals, teaming up with Camille Clarin, Jhaz Joson, and Mikka Cacho. They topped Pool C with a perfect 3-0 record before defeating NTSC 1, 16-14, in the quarterfinals.
Uratex Dream, meanwhile, fell to the Panthers 3x3 Spain, 21-14, in their semifinal match.
With veterans Sam Harada and Li Renzhu, and additions Hazelle Yam and Japanese guard Wakana Yagami, Uratex finished second in Pool B with a 2-1 record. They advanced to the quarters, beating Shoot It Dragons, 21-16.
Despite their defeats, it was a strong showing for the Philippine teams, following their performance at the Manila Hustle 3x3 Season 3 last week.
Uratex Tibay, which included CC Junsay, Marian Domingo, Lourdes Ordoveza, and Ford Grajales, did not make it past the group stages with a 1-2 record in Pool A.
Chuu, led by Thai stars Bo Supavadee and Junny Udomsuk, took home the women’s title and the USD3,000 prize after defeating the Panthers 3×3, featuring Ari Geli and Paris Olympian Kacie Bosch.
On the men's side, Uncle Drew Pilipinas finished as runners-up after a 20-15 loss to Jumpshot Singapore in the final.
The team, made up of TH Tumalip, Shaq Alanes, and imports Joshua Keyes and Jose Blazquez, earned the top seed in Pool A, beating NTSC 2, 21-19, in the quarters and Chinese Taipei, 21-17, in the semifinals.
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It wasn’t the smoothest of starts for NLEX, which found itself down by 11 early in the game. But the tide shifted in the second quarter, where the Road Warriors erupted for a 34-12 run behind the efforts of Robert Bolick, Dominic Fajardo, Tony Semerad, and Xyrus Torres to seize a 52-36 halftime lead.
Blackwater attempted a late push, cutting the gap to 76-65 in the fourth quarter, but NLEX responded with a 12-5 counter that put the game out of reach. Semerad, who buried three triples in the payoff period, earned Finals MVP honors with 16 points and 12 rebounds. Torres topped the scoring for NLEX with 19 markers, while Bolick came close to a triple-double with eight points, six boards, and nine assists. JB Bahio and Fajardo chipped in 12 and 10 markers, respectively. As a team, the Road Warriors torched the net from beyond the arc, going 18-of-34, with Semerad and Torres sinking four each.
Sedrick Barefield paced Blackwater with 15 points, while Richard Escoto added 14. The Bossing, despite falling short in the finals, had an impressive run in the preliminaries, including a comeback win over NLEX, 95-90, earlier in the tournament.
The championship serves as a timely boost for NLEX heading into the new PBA season. Last year, the Road Warriors finished second in the Philippine Cup eliminations before bowing out in the quarterfinals against Rain or Shine. Deputy mentor Adonis Tierra called the shots in their last two games, steering the team to become the second straight PBA squad to lift the Kadayawan crown, following Rain or Shine’s sweep in 2024. NLEX closed the tournament with a 3-1 card, their lone loss coming at the hands of Blackwater.
In the battle for third place, Phoenix avoided a winless campaign with a convincing 101-81 rout of Converge. Raffy Verano led the way with 19 points and nine rebounds, while Tyler Tio and Kai Ballungay contributed 17 and 15 markers, respectively. The win marked the first for new head coach Willy Wilson, who took over during the offseason. Coincidentally, Phoenix also defeated Converge for third place in last year’s edition of the tournament.
The NLEX Road Warriors and Blackwater Bossing opened their campaigns in the 2025 Kadayawan Invitational with victories in their respective first games on Thursday, August 21, at the USEP Gym in Davao City.
In the first game, Sedrick Barefield made an immediate impact for the Bossing. The 2024 second overall pick erupted for 28 points, including six triples. Three of those came in succession in the fourth quarter, turning a slim 72-66 lead into a more comfortable 81-68 cushion.
Troy Mallillin contributed 17 points and six rebounds, while newcomer Jed Mendoza impressed in his debut with 16 points.
For the Phoenix Fuel Masters, Jason Perkins and Kai Ballungay scored 12 points apiece in their first game under new head coach Willie Wilson, who took over from Jamike Jarin after he was moved to a team consultant role.
The East Asia Super League (EASL) is officially set to raise the curtain on its new season with a twin opening in Taipei and Tokyo on October 8, 2025 — a move that reflects the league’s expanding reach and growing stature as Asia’s premier basketball competition.
All eyes in Taiwan will be on the Taipei Heping Basketball Gymnasium, which will host a blockbuster doubleheader featuring some of the region’s most decorated clubs.
The action tips off with a clash between the B.LEAGUE champions Utsunomiya Brex and the P. LEAGUE+ runners-up Taipei Fubon Braves. Utsunomiya, led by veteran guard Makoto Hiejima, entered as one of Japan’s most successful franchises. The Braves, meanwhile, look to prove their resilience after falling short in a grueling seven-game finals series last season, banking on the leadership of Chinese Taipei legend Lin Chih-Chieh.
The second game of the night brings a rematch between the P. LEAGUE+ champions Taoyuan Pauian Pilots and Japan’s Ryukyu Golden Kings. Their last encounter came in the 2025 EASL Final Four semifinals, where Taoyuan stunned Ryukyu, 71–64. This time, the Golden Kings are eager for redemption, while the Pilots hope to reaffirm their place among Asia’s elite.
Game schedule (HKT):
- Utsunomiya vs. Taipei Fubon – 6:30 PM
- Taoyuan vs. Ryukyu – 8:30 PM