MANILA, Philippines – Ewon Arayi, a mainstay of the Philippine women's national basketball team, played one of the most significant games of her life on Sunday when she and other PBA Women's 3x3 All-Stars competed in a five-on-five game at the Araneta Coliseum.

It was the first time that the league featured women's basketball players in its showpiece event, and Arayi – who starred for Adamson University in the early 2000s – was delighted to be part of the group who showed to the Filipino people that – in her own words – "girls can play basketball, too."

"Very happy and excited" was how Arayi described herself after scoring 13 points to lead the Light team to a 43-35 victory over the Dark team in the game that served as the final appetizer ahead of the All-Star Game.

"Andito pa rin 'yung excitement sa heart ko," she said. "We are very happy and very grateful, unang-una sa Panginoong Diyos, and second sa PBA for giving us this opportunity na maglaro, to showcase the women's talent."

For Arayi, the game was not only an opportunity to showcase the talent of female basketball players as it was also a way to inspire young girls who hope to one day play at a high level as well.

"Sa totoo lang, sabi ko nga, sooner or later, mapapagod na ako at tatanda na ako," said Arayi. "Tatanda ako at hindi na ako maglalaro."

"Sabi ko nga sa mga kagaya namin na matatanda na still playing ngayon, mag-tanim tayo. In the future, ang aani ay mga kabataan natin, 'yung future ballers natin," she said.

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Arayi believes they will still see the fruits of their labor in the near future. "Baka mamaya, coach na pala kami doon sa magigin WPBA, so sabi ko, win-win situation," she said.

This is why Arayi exhorted her teammates to play their hearts out and show their skills and talents to the whole nation.

"Kung hindi natin aayusin, (kaming) mga babae na nabigyan ng opportunities, sino ang gagawa?" she said rhetorically. "Sabi ko nga, let's have fun. Laro tayo na parang ito na 'yung last na paglalaro natin, para mag-laro tayo ng maayos."

"Kasi, kung lalaru-laruin lang natin, hahayaan na lang nila 'yan," she added.

The other women's players responded. Teaming up with Arayi in the Light Team was Analyn Almazan, another former star for Adamson, who had 14 points and seven rebounds in the game, while showing off the versatility that once made her the top player in the UAAP.

"Malaking motivation ito para sa mga babae, kasi s'yempre, marami ring mga babae na gusto maglaro," said Almazan. "So ito ay para makita nila na may naglalarong mga babae. Baka mag-try out rin sila."

In the other side, it was former De La Salle University star Ara Abaca who drew the biggest cheers from the audience with her ability to slice into the lane for buckets. Indeed, it was Abaca's reverse lay-up off a baseline drive that inspired the loudest oohs and aahs from the audience at the Big Dome.

The game itself was not the high-scoring affair that most fans who watch during All-Star Weekend are used to, but for Arayi and the rest of the PBA Women's 3x3 All-Stars, it was a good enough start.

"By the help of the PBA, malayo ang mararating ng women's basketball dito sa Pilipinas," she said.

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