Filipina bets Uratex Dream and Discovery Perlas won their opening assignments to kickstart the 3×3 Basketball Thai Super League 2022 on a sterling note on Wednesday in Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya.
Uratex, the two-time WNBL Pilipinas 3×3 champions, made quick work of Jumpshot (Singapore) in Pool A, 21-7 behind the hot shooting of Alyssa Villamor.
Villamor drained four two-pointers for a total of eight points, with her back-to-back long-range connections giving the Dream a commanding 10-2 lead early against Kang Yi Tan, Natalia Dos Santos, Xiu Hui Wong, and Cheong Hui Ling.
Later, Kristina Deacon took charge in the paint, scoring five straight points of her own before twos by Villamor and Kaye Pingol pushed the advantage up to 19-7.
Eunique Chan ended the game with a bucket underneath as the Dream took the opening win with 1:07 left on the game clock.
Deacon finished with seven points while Pingol added five markers.
Discovery Perlas made it a perfect start for the Filipinas after a 22-17 win over Sriracha Eagle (Thailand)’s Parida Naumkong, Pimthicha Jantarwong, Piyanuch Sriprem, and Wannapa Nonsiri in Pool B.
Ford Grajales scored nine points on four deuces, including the game-winner with 2:31 left in the match.
Perlas bucked off a slow start and established a 12-9 lead after the veteran point guard knocked down three long-range shots.
Later, Allana Lim imposed her will, scoring on layups and trips to the foul line to extend the lead up to 17-12.
The Thai side threatened, cutting the deficit down to 18-16 after a Piyanuch Sriprem two, but the team entered the penalty situation at the 2:54 mark.
Lim made two free throws before Grajales drained the left corner two to seal the win.
The former UAAP Finals MVP added eight points while Misaela Larosa and Hazelle Yam tallied three and two points, respectively.
Both Uratex and Discovery will still play a couple of games each in Day 1, gunning for the best seeds available entering the knockout quarterfinals tomorrow.
Photo from Uratex Dream Facebook
- UAAP Season 86 unveils dynamic theme ‘Fueling the Future’ - September 15, 2023
- MSC 2023 expands, includes North Africa-Middle East, North America, Turkey - February 19, 2023
- ECHO picks Chou for M4 World Championship commemorative skin - February 18, 2023
