After starting strong, the Perlas Philippines national women’s team bowed to fourth seed the Netherlands, 21-11, in the women’s division yesterday at the start of the 2018 FIBA 3×3 World Cup at the Philippine Arena in Bocaue, Bulacan.
The Dutch cagebelles, led by Karin Kujit, trailed by 2-3 to post their first win in Pool D.
Kujit went on to finish with eight points, with Jacobine Klerx backing her up with six.
Janine Pontejos showed the way for the Filipinas with six points.
Top seed China took the lead in Pool B play after scoring back-to-back wins over France and Switzerland.
Yin Yung Li emerged as the tournament’s second highest scorer on Day 1 after she made seven points in their 16-14 beating of France.
She then struck with 11 points when China again won a close game, this time over Switzerland, 21-20.
In the men’s division, second seed Slovenia is now ahead in Pool B with two straight wins.
The Slovenian cagers first survived the big game of Michael Hicks in taking a 22-17 stopping of Poland.
Simon Finzgar, who drilled in six points against Poland, hit nine points when they got past Japan, 22-14.
World no. 5 Anze Srebovt, one of the players to watch out for in the Slovenian team, made five points against Poland and four in their match with Japan.
Hicks emerged as the most productive player so far, hitting nine points when Poland smothered Indonesia, 22-6, and nine in their losing game to Slovenia.
Meanwhile, the 19th seed Philippine national men’s squad, with Roger Pogoy, Troy Rosario and Christian Standhardinger joining up with Stanley Pringle in practice, plunges into action today.
The Ronald Magsanoc-coached squad will first face sixth seed Brazil at 3:10 p.m., before taking on Mongolia at 6:40 p.m.