Fresh from her campaign in the Australian NBL One, Jhaz Joson comes home to more basketball action in Manila for the Pilipinas United 3x3 League.
The game never stops for former Ateneo standout Jhaz Joson as she is set to plunge right back into action Saturday for the Pilipinas United 3x3 League at the Ayala Malls Manila Bay.
This comes after ending her Australia NBL One season with the Joondalup City Wanneroo Wolves.
Joson had recently come home after wrapping up the Wolves’ season earlier this month and will now shift to 3x3 play with the Pilipinas Aguilas.
For the 26-year-old, it’s a blessing to have so much to look forward to in terms of her career. Also being involved in professional league Women’s Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League as a spectator, Joson said she was happy to see more and more opportunities for women in basketball.
[READ: Gilas Women U23 headline inaugural staging of Pilipinas United 3x3 League]
“I'm really grateful, especially now that this league for 3x3 is starting not just for men but also for women, which I'm happy about,” said Joson, speaking about the league co-founded by Eric Altamirano and Drew Combate.
“You know, we all hear that WMPBL is also doing really great right now, and the Gilas team, so a lot of opportunities for the women's basketball in the Philippines, which I am so grateful about because a lot of girls who want to play professionally will have more chances to do so.”
Before suiting up for the Wolves, Joson played for the Goldfields Giants, also in the NBL One.
Though she has been attuned to 5-on-5 in her recent stints, she is also a veteran of 3x3 — especially when it comes to the national team.
She recently played with the Gilas Pilipinas Women 3x3 team in the FIBA 3x3 Asia Cup in March this year.
Having to transition back and forth between the two basketball disciplines, Joson said she just needs to keep her head on a swivel.
“Actually, that's a good question. For me, it's actually pretty difficult because 3x3 is very different from 5x5. You can tell from, especially the basketball, right, it's already heavier than the usual normal ball for 5x5. But, yeah, I think for 3x3, you just have to get your stamina back, your endurance,” said Joson.
“Other than that, you know, it's the same basketball game, you're just playing with two different people, I mean three girls. So, yeah, no, the transition is very different, difficult, but it's doable,” she added.
Joining Joson this weekend at the Pilipinas United 3x3 League are Trina Guytingco, Lexi Pana, and Mar Prado — they face a field of seven other teams including the Gilas Pilipinas U23 3x3 team made up of Joson’s former teammate Kacey Dela Rosa, Tin Cayabyab, Elaine Etang, and Cheska Apag.