DEFENDING champion Manila West started its title-retention bid of the International Basketball Federation (Fiba) 3×3 Manila Masters on a high note, beating Auckland of New Zealand, 21-18, in their Pool D match on Saturday at the jampacked Robinson’s Place in Ermita, Manila.
Terrence Romeo led the Manila West with 12 points and delivered the final basket for the reigning titlists, who were expected to top their pool and entered the next phase as they were scheduled to meet the lowly Manila South later that day.
Manila South failed to sweep the opening games for the host teams as it yielded a 21-14 decision to Auckland.
Meanwhile, Manila North, backstopped by Calvin Abueva, downed Lebanon’s Beirut, 20-18, in a highly physical encounter in their Pool B match and gained a spot in the next round.
They followed it up with a 17-16 squeaker over Ljubljan of Slovenia behind Troy Rosario’s buzzer-beat tip in to finish Pool B with a 2-0 slate.
Against Beirut, Abueva’s Alaska teammate Vic Manuel hit two crucial free throws with 7.1 seconds left that shattered the 18-all deadlock.
Beirut failed to convert its potential game-tying two-pointer to absorb its first loss.
The Romeo-led Manila West squad was also made up of Nino Canaleta, Rey Guevarra and Aldrech Ramos.
They Filipinos led by as much as eight points in the contest, 16-8, but Auckland, behind the outside sniping of Karl Noyer cut the lead to 18-20.
Romeo missed the potential game-winning drive but recovered a loose ball and hit a short jumper to seal the victory.
Guevarra chipped in four points, Canaleta added three markers, while Ramos contributed two. The Manila North-Beirut match was a physical one with a lot of pushing and shoving in the contest.
But in the end, it was the home team that kept its composure as Manuel’s two charities gave Manila North its first victory and put itself in a good position for a spot in Sunday’s knockout quarterfinal stage.
Manuel led Manila North with eight points, while Troy Rosario added five, including a putback slam. Karl Dehesa finished with four points while Abueva finished with three.