AS teams gear up for the PBA 46th season, so does their counterparts for the 3x3 inaugural tournament.
With the maiden meet set to kick off a month after the July 16 opening of the Philippine Cup at the Ynares Sports Arena, the 10 squads along with six guest ballclubs are now also in the thick of preparations for the three-a-side game.
So far, TnT Tropang Giga, Meralco, and Phoenix have made strides in surrounding their respective teams with marquee Fil-foreign players.
The Tropang Giga are bringing over Jeremiah Gray, the Fuel Masters already came to terms with Brandon Ganuelas Rosser, while the Bolts found a gem in veteran international point guard Jason Brickman to lead them.
Phoenix deputy coach Willy Wilson is the one who will call the shots for the Fuel Masters.
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Meanwhile, long-time assistant coach Boycie Zamar is going to handle the San Miguel Beermen to be led by Louie Vigil, while NLEX will have guard Kyles Lao among its players in the six-man unit to be coached by the duo of Borgie Hermida and Emman Monfort.
Former Blackwater stalwart Matt Salem meanwhile, leads the Terrafirma charge which will have Raymond Tiongco as coach.
The other teams have yet to show a glimpse of their rosters, including multi-titled franchise Zamboanga Valientes MLV as well as Pioneer Adhesives, two of six guest ballclubs seeing action.
Games of the 3x3 will be held every morning of weekends and follows the same format used in the FIBA endorsed tournament.
Six legs are going to be held for the all-Filipino conference.
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Others competing in the pilot edition of the meet are Barangay Ginebra, Magnolia, NorthPort, and Rain or Shine. Alaska deferred to play in the meet as team governor Dickie Bachmann serves as tournament chairman. (RG)
