International 3×3 staple Zamboanga to test waters in PBA league

By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña

 

One of the most popular 3×3 teams in the Philippines will finally answer the call and join the first season of the PBA 3×3 league.

The Zamboanga Valientes is the first-ever PH squad to join the Australian Champions League Basketball 3×3 where they dominated in all of the seasons.

Led by Christopher Concepcion, Valientes became the no. 1 3×3 team in the Australian Champions League, clinching the league championship four times in just a span of three months.

Zamboanga team owner Junnie Navarro said that it has always been a dream of his to participate in the biggest basketball pro league in the country.

“In my tender years, my sole dream is not only to be a basketball player in my city but to make it to the highest professional league, the PBA but God has other plans for me. He has prepared another road to take and that is to become a team owner of the said league,” said Navarro.

Entering the 3×3 scene in 2019, Valientes joined the first 3×3 league in the Philippines, the Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas 3×3 and competed during the 2019 Manila challenger.

After the national stint, Zamboanga wanted to expand and delve more in 3×3 and decided to fly to Australia to further hone their team chemistry which proved to be fruitful for the team.

In Australia, Valientes was able to nab the 3×3 Christmas Hustle in Canberra, CLB 3×3 in Bendigo, CLB 3×3 Portland Opens, and the Champions League in Hamilton.

“It has never crossed my mind that I will be one of those few people who will be owning a team in PBA 3×3 league,” added team owner Navarro.