ZOOS set for Manila Hustle title defense

Ama Degbeon

AOI Katsura is still confident in Zoos Tokyo’s chances to defend their Manila Hustle 3x3 throne even if she’s not with the team.

The Season 2 Most Outstanding Player-turned-team owner understands the enormous pressure that falls on the shoulders of her team, but is nonetheless excited to see the Japanese club rise to the occasion.

“It’s going to be a challenging task but at the same time, I have full confidence in their great potential—both as individual players and as a team—so anything is possible. I believe they are the ones who will make it happen,” she said ahead of their title retention bid in this tourney co-presented by Uratex, Smart, and the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP).

World no. 55 Ama Degbeon is the lone holdover from last year’s unit as she will be joined by Japanese under-23 standouts Fatoumanana Nishi, Maya Tahira, and Miran Kikuchi.

This, Katsura said, is by design, saying that the project was “to provide various opportunities for future players.”

But that doesn’t mean that Zoos Tokyo is going to be a pushover this year.

Degbeon, for her part, is hungry to show that she can still lead the team to the top in this tilt which also has Titan as official partner, together with Wilson, Seiko, B’lue, Secret Fresh, BDO, Jollibee, TRYP by Wyndham, Jisulife, Rexona, Senka, and Laurin.

“Of course, it’s a big motivation to repeat as champions, but more than anything, we want to focus on giving our all in every game and the goal is always to win,” said the German forward.

Zoos, however, has its work cut out for it as it finds itself in a tough Pool D together with Gilas Women 3x3, Panthers 3x3 of Spain, and Harimau Malaysia.

The winner of the Philippine 3x3 women's international invitational will take home the USD4,000 cash prize and an invite to the WKBL Triple Jam later this year.