Champion Uratex Dream (blue) and Runner-Up Uratex Tibay (white) can now sleep well after their game.
MUNTINLUPA CITY – Heavy favorite Uratex Dream put to sleep sister team Uratex Tibay, 21-18, to annex the championship of the 2022 Women’s National Basketball League (WNBL) 3×3 Leg Four Saturday at the Muntinlupa Sports Center. The marks the Dream’s return to supremacy with their third title in the country’s pioneering Women’s professional league.
The trio of Alyssa Villamor, Kaye Pingol and Angel Anies bombed away for six two-point shots to erect the Dream’s biggest lead, 14-7. The Tibay fought back and tied the count, 18-18, but Tina Deacon rescued the team with two timely baskets coupled by tight defense with Anies driving for the championship point with exactly a minute left on the clock.
Villamor was named the leg’s Most Valuable Player to follow up her same award in Leg Two last February. The champions received P15,000 while Uratex Tibay got P10,000 and P5,000 went to third placer STAN Quezon Lady Spartan plus medals for all podium finishers.
In the semifinals, the Tibay routed Bicygnal, 14-9, to enter the finals for the very first time and was immediately followed by the Dream’s 22-9 beating on the Lady Spartan. Both Uratex squads topped their respective groups in the elimination round albeit in contrasting fashion.
The Dream wasted no time in downing one by one Davao Royal Eagles (21-8), We Got Next (21-11), Got Game (22-8) and Bicygnal (21-12) in Group B. After winning easily over Panukalan Quezon (21-3) and Boosted Pangasinan (21-9), the Tibay bowed to the Lady Spartan (13-14) but recovered against Angelis Resort (19-13) to create a triple tie at 3-1 at the top of Group B with the Lady Spartan at the eventually eliminated Angelis Resort due to lesser total points scored.
The fifth and next leg of the series is planned for September and will coincide with the opening of the new conferences of the NBL Chairman’s Cup and WNBL. The much awaited return of an expanded NBL Youth and inaugural WNBL D-League will happen before the current month ends.
Meanwhile, WNBL management announced that they will dispense with the Rookie Draft and allow both rookies and veterans to freely negotiate with any team that they wish to play for starting with the next conference. The league is open to all Filipina players aged 21 years and above and must secure a valid license from the Games and Amusements Board (GAB).
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