Uratex Dream completed a rare three-peat as the premier local club ruled the Red Bull Half Court National Finals for the third straight year.
Gilas Pilipinas Women standout Kaye Pingol joined forces with Lexi Pana to lead the squad to a commanding 22-8 win over sister team Uratex Tibay in the championship game last Saturday at Parqal in Aseana City. Joining them were fellow national team member Hazelle Yam and veteran Sam Harada as the Peachy Medina-owned Uratex squad earned another ticket to the Red Bull Half Court World Final in Dubai from November 27 to 29.
‘We’re so happy to keep this championship and it only motivates us to do better now that this will be our third time on that grand stage,’ said Pingol, the Philippines’ No. 1-ranked women’s 3×3 player.
Uratex Dream came close to the title last year, finishing as runner-up to Tokyo Verdy of Japan, 11-8, in the Grand Final at Brooklyn Bridge Park in New York. Pingol and Harada were holdovers of that unit alongside Afril Bernardino and Eunique Chan. ‘Of course, we always want to win and we want to redeem ourselves from last year,’ said Pingol.
The Dream went undefeated in the tournament, defeating Aguilas Hoop Jeep, 16-8, in the semifinals. In the men’s division, Taho Story ruled to book its own ticket to Dubai.
The quartet of Nikki Monteclaro, Mikey Macaballug, Jordan Rios, and Ik Apuru prevailed over Fit N’ Grind, 9-5, in a closely contested final.