Gilas Women Hazelle Yam confident to win Manila Hustle 3×3

Photo source: Vyn Radovan

As the Manila Hustle 3×3: Philippine Women’s 3×3 International Invitational returns for its third season, Gilas Pilipinas 3×3 Women Hazelle Yam is excited to showcase her talent.

“Super happy, kasi it’s a stage to display our talent. I get to showcase my talent,” Yam said when asked how she felt about the tournament nearing. She added, “Pressure is always there, pero we have to fight through it.”

Ranked No. 4 in the Philippines, Yam shared how 3×3 strengthens the chemistry with teammates compared to 5-on-5.

She explained, “Their formats and mechanics are very different. With 5-on-5, full-court, you play with 5 players and a line-up of 15. As for 3×3, you only have 4 sa line-up, so I guess mappractice niyo ‘yung chemistry. Mas close ka with teammates kasi nga onti lang kayo.”

In the scene for a while now, Yam also acknowledges that Manila Hustle 3×3 amplifies hope for Philippine Women’s Basketball. 

“Before, after college, nothing much left for Women’s Basketball,” said Yam. “Pero now, you have Manila Hustle, you get to play with international teams. If you win the championship, you get a ticket to the WKBL to play.”

“[I’m] super hopeful, I hope tuloy-tuloy na ‘to, and like sa Men’s may PBA, I hope Women’s Basketball can be a profession na rin.”

Hazelle Yam will team up with Philippines No. 3 Camille Clarin, No. 8 Mikka Cacho, and No. 12 Jhazmin Joson for Gilas Pilipinas 3×3 competing in Pool D. Yam is confident that they’ll take the ticket to WKBL. 

Gilas Pilipinas 3×3 Women joins the ‘Group of Death’ together with defending champion Zoos Tokyo, Spain’s Panthers 3×3, and Harimau Malaysia.

“We’ve been working hard. My teammates are Jhaz Joson, Mikka Cacho, and Camille Clarin, so I’m confident that we can win,” Yam boldly said.

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