By Argie Paul Candare
Leg 1 of the inaugural Philippine Basketball Association 3X3 Tournament is ready for kickoff on November 20 as teams in each pool are now identified.
The tournament will host six legs, each of which have three groups. Thirteen teams will be divided within those three pools in two days.
After the draw, Pool A consists of TNT Tropang Giga, Limitless Appmasters, Zamboanga Valientes, Platinum Karaoke, and Purefoods TJ Titans.
Barangay Ginebra San Miguel 3×3, Terrafirma 3X3, Meralco Bolts, and Sista Super Sealers complete Pool B.
Lastly, the four remaining squads of Cavitex Braves, Pioneer Pro Tiba, NorthPort Batang Pier and San Miguel Beermen comprise Pool C.
The 3×3 conference will feature current and former stars of the game including highly-touted Fil-Am forward Jeremiah Gray of TNT, Brandon Ganuellass-Rosser of Appmasters, former BPC-winner Mac Cardona will suit for Valientes and Platinum's Dylan Ababou.
Leg champion gets P100,000, runner-up pockets P50,000 and third place receives P30,000.
Meanwhile, Alex Cabagnot will now don a Terrafirma Dyip uniform this upcoming Governors' Cup after getting traded by the San Miguel Beermen for guard Simon Enciso.
The 5’11” veteran cager played for a total of eight years with the Beermen, collecting eight championships and a Finals' MVP during 2017 Commissioners' Cup.
In 2014, Cabagnot was also traded to then-GlobalPort Batang Pier for guard Sol Mercado, but was later reclaimed that year for the aforementioned playmaker.
Meanwhile, Enciso, who was freshly-acquired by the Dyip from Blackwater Bossing, will join a high-powered rotation of SMB guards, including the likes of Terrence Romeo, Chris Ross and CJ Perez.