San Beda claims inaugural i3i title

Davon Potts

San Beda-A became the first-ever Intercollegiate 3x3 Invitationals champions in front of a packed house on Sunday afternoon at SM Mall of Asia Music Hall, capping off a two-day tournament organized by Kiefer Ravena and Rack Sports Management.

San Beda-A, composed of the quartet of Davon Potts, Robert Bolick, Dan Sara, and Donald Tankoua, swept San Beda-C, 11-9 and 22-8, in its best-of-three finals matchup to claim the championship and the PhP 200,000 top prize. The runners-up, composed of Arnaud Noah, William Navarro, Joe Presbitero, and Jeramer Cabanag, received PhP 100,000.

San Beda-A scorched from the beyond the arc to sweep San Beda-C and win the first-ever Intercollegiate 3x3 Invitationals championship before a huge crowd Sunday at the Mall of Asia Music Hall.

Finishing in 3rd place is UE-A, composed of Arnold Pasaol, Clark Derige, Bonbon Batiller, and Paul Varilla. They dispatched FEU-A to claim the second runners-up title.

Also being awarded is the Mythical Team composed of Potts, Noah, Pasaol, and FEU-A's Joe Trinidad.


“Sobrang saya namin kasi champion kami. All our teams have been very competitive,” said Sara. “Malapit na rin NCAA so sobrang okay na experience sa amin ito. Dito start na talaga ng maturity namin.”

Day 2 of the tournament comprised of eight squads that survived the rigors of the action at the Xavier School Gym that hosted the event the day before. 32 teams from the UAAP and NCAA participated in the tournament, which is supported by Akari, Meralco, SM Mall of Asia, MyPhone, Toby’s, Titan, The Frazzled Cook, Gatorade, Milo, Ambucare and Teravibe, as well as endorsed by the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas.

According to Kiefer, "This is the first step in our goal of getting more Filipinos involved in 3x3." Rack Sports, he adds, is planning on replicating this tournament in the next few months elsewhere in the country.