Hot Shots, Bem Ermii, Arc Angels are Vega 3x3 champs

The basketball court was on fire as all teams brought the heat—but only three were crowned champions of the 2025 VEGA Environmental 3x3 Basketball Tournament on Wednesday at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium.

Hot Shots claimed the U18 boys crown with a thrilling win over G-Rollers, 15-13. At the end of regulation which was 10 minutes, but teams were deadlocked, 13-13, so in 3x3 rules, the first team to score 2 more points wins the game.

After the G-Rollers’ didn’t capitalize on their possession, the Hot Shots secured the win with a 2-pointer by Heman Addy.

It was a close game throughout as G-Rollers’ Enzo Sasamoto, James Matsumoto, Dany Defang, and Austin Hoepner gave the Hot Shots a run for their money. Both teams traded buckets and were tied up more than once, with Hot Shots’ Matthew Peters and Kian Helgen trying to pull away, only for the G-Rollers to close the gap each time. In the end, Addy’s sharpshooting sealed the win and the title.

Helgen was then named the Most Valuable Player. For the 17-year-old Saipan Southern High School senior, he said, “It was a great tournament, it was good competition. Thankful for all the teams that came out and that was able to make it happen. I want to give a shoutout to Vega for being able to sponsor us and make this tournament be able to happen.”

In the finals, he said that his team did really well. “It was a really great team effort for everybody. I’m thankful for my team for cutting the slack for me and making it easier for us to get the buckets and carry us on to the championship.”

On his MVP win, he said, “I was expecting the MVP—I could say I brought us here and it was a great opportunity and I’m always thankful for Matthew for bringing the heat in our finals and thank you to Heman for closing the game. It was a wonderful finals.”

In the men’s division, Bem Ermii were crowned champions over Asian Persuasion after a thrilling matchup that was down to the wire with a 21-19 final.

It was another heated game as both teams were evenly matched, with Bem Ermii out to prove why they—Chioni Dela Cruz, Ervin Villarin, Airson Atan, and Junior Thongaram—were CNMI’s bet in the Palau Pacific Mini Games, while Asian Persuasion’s Coby Santos, Mii Tekopua, Tony Kim, and Keith Santos looked to assert their dominance in the local 3x3 scene.

In the end, foul trouble and trips to the free throw line decided the outcome, with Bem Ermii’s Villarin sinking the 21st point to claim the trophy.

Dela Cruz was then named the MVP. The tournament, he said, was a good one. “This is one of the few tournaments that we’ve ran here so far so I hope the sport continues to grow,” said the 23-year-old.

The team was the same 3x3 team that competed in Palau and he said it’s been a while since they’ve played together. In the beginning of the tournament, they lost to Asian Persuasion, but as the games went on, he said they started to find their groove again.

When the final point went in, Dela Cruz said he was so happy because even if they haven’t been practicing much together, they were able to pull it off. “It was a good turnout for sure. There were a lot of fans, a lot of young kids watching so I hope that inspires them to play the sport as well.”

In the women’s division, the Arc Angels claimed the trophy after defeating Prime 1, 13-8. The Arc Angels, led by veterans Madeleine Alegre and Mikki Kautz along with youngsters Destiny Pangelinan and Tihannalyn Sanchez, overpowered Prime 1’s younger lineup of Yasmeen Younis, Rosie Saralu, Jahsmin Ramon, and Maria Enriquez.

After the game, Sanchez was named the MVP. The 24-year-old, who just recently returned home and has been here for only four months said that this was her first time playing FIBA 3x3 and first time meeting the team. “I think we did a really good job. I see the culture out here and I’m glad to be a part of it,” she said. As for getting the MVP award, she said she did not expect it. “I just played my hardest in the game that I really like.”