By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña
One of the deadliest scorers in the history of the Philippine 3×3 scene will be headlining the official roster for the upcoming FIBA 3×3 Asia Cup in Singapore.
TNT Tropang Giga’s Almond Vosotros will spearhead PHL’s bid for glory in another FIBA 3×3 tournament.
Vosotros will be playing alongside his teammates Samboy De Leon and Lervin Flores and completing their quartet is Purefoods TJ Titans’ Joseph Eriobu.
Trailing 13-18 with 1:37 left during the championship game of the PBA 3×3, Vosotros’ offensive outburst led TNT’s courageous fight back to force overtime and stun Eriobu and the TJ Titans to clinch the 3rd conference grand finals crown.
“Si Eriobu madali naman maka-adjust sa amin. Yun ang wino-workout naming. Ngayong naglaban kami sa finals, sa tingin ko mas makukuha namin yung connection ng isa’t isa,” said Vosotros.
Vosotros is no longer a stranger representing the Philippine national team on the international stage after winning a gold medal with Gilas Pilipinas last 2015 and 2017 during the Southeast Asian Games.
However, the full-court five-on-five game is an entirely different setting than the 3×3, one thing that Vosotros and his team will try to build on during their practice sessions before flying to Singapore.
The quartet will be mentored by veteran coach Lester Del Rosario of Pioneer Pro Tibay and is already starting with their intensive practice camp.
“Masaya. Ibang usapan na ito kasi Team Pilipinas na iyon, hindi na yung para sa team mo. Dito sa 3×3 ang dinadala mo bansang Pilipinas na,” said Eriobu.
Vosotros and his crew will have a tough task heading into their opening schedule as they will be taking on Jordan and Indonesia on July 7.
