Uratex Dream put up a gallant fight but found Australia a hard nut to crack, absorbing a 9-5 defeat in the quarterfinals of the Red Bull Half Court World Final Sunday in Belgrade, Serbia.
After tasting a tough 17-8 loss to eventual champion Egypt on Saturday (Manila time), the Philippine crew responded with a close 7-6 win over Italy before demolishing Kuwait, 21-7, and Sri Lanka, 18-7, to finish second in Group A with its 3-1 win-loss column and book its ticket to the knockout phase.
Uratex Dream is also looking at the WMovement’s Second 3×3 Elite Invitational Tournament as part of its preparations for the second staging of the Manila Hustle 3×3 in February next year.
In the men’s side, TNT Triple Giga got knocked out of the last 16 after a slim 18-17 loss to Dominican Republic.
The unit of Lervin Flores, Gryann Mendoza, Tonino Gonzaga, and Chester Saldua lost to Italy, 14-13, before rebounding with a pair of thrillers against Kenya, 10-9, and North Macedonia, 17-16, to place second in Group A.
