Slim Reaperz rip through 2nd 3x3 title

Team Slim Reaperz carried their momentum and chemistry into their second straight 3x3 title after facing off against familiar foe Redeem Team in the 2026 NMIBF U18 3x3 Basketball Tournament on Thursday, Oct. 15, at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium.

The Slim Reaperz, made up of Matthew Peters, Joshua Yorormad, Nigel Masao, and Louis Rectitud, beat the Redeem Team made up of Austin Hoepner, James Matsumoto, Dany Defang, and Enzo Sasamoto, 19-15.

The 3x3 format is whoever scores 21 points first wins—or if 10 minutes are up before that, whoever has the most points wins.

The game opened up close, with each team taking turns sinking in their shots. But with time quickly expiring, Rectitud stepped up and let it fly from beyond the arc four times to expand their lead. (In 3x3 basketball, a basket from beyond the 3-point line equals two points and a shot inside the arc is one point).

The Redeem Team got as close as being down by just one with about 3 minutes left as Sasamoto went back-to-back from downtown, but the Slim Reaperz pulled away. Peters had the chance to close it out at 21 points, but didn’t sink in his last free throws. In the end, Rectitud led the team with a total of 14 markers, while Peters scored four, and Yorormad contributed one.

After the game, the Slim Reaperz said that it felt good winning this championship after winning the recent G-Rollers 3x3 tourney in September—also against the Redeem Team. Rectitud said of the team, “I’ve been boys with them ever since middle school so we just reunited for this 3x3 and we won, just like the last one. All praise to God.”

Peters, for his part, said, “I’d like to thank God first, for everything he’s done for us, helping us win, giving us the energy we needed. And thanks to the MVP Louis Rectitud for all the threes he drained.” On how they felt facing off against the Redeem Team once again, he said, “After the Rollers 3x3, they made some changes to their team, they made it stronger, and not gonna lie, it made us a bit nervous. But, we already knew after Louis shot that three, we were in the game, and we were going to win.”

The tourney was cut short due to Typhoon Champi making its way to the Marianas last weekend. The men’s 3x3 tourney starts tomorrow, Wednesday, Oct. 21.