Chooks makes history in Asia Pacific 3x3
STA. ROSA, Laguna — Cebu Chooks etched their name in history by delivering the country’s second 3x3 crown following a sweep of the 2022 Chooksto-Go International Basketball Federation (FIBA) 3x3 Asia Pacific Super Quest over the weekend at the Ayala Malls Solenad Activity Center here.
Mac Tallo, the country’s No. 1 3x3 player, starred with eight markers including the dagger in the last minute as Cebu Chooks escaped with a 17-15 win over Mongolia’s Sansar to win the FIBA 3x3 Level 8 tournament.
With the support of Brandon Ramirez, Zach Huang, and Cameroonian reinforcement Mike Harry Nzeusseu, the Philippine team followed the feat of the allpro Manila West squad that ruled the 2014 FIBA 3x3 World Tour Manila Masters.
And Cebu Chooks, under the watch of trainer Aldin Ayo, achieved it in a clean wipeout of five games starting from the pool play.
The team trounced its counterparts in Pool B with wins against Tangerang of Indonesia, 21-12, Mongolia’s Sansar, 14-12, and fellow Filipino club Butuan Chooks, 21-10, to march on to the Final Four.
The Philippine club then clobbered another local team, the Manila Chooks — made up of Mark Yee, Chico Lanete, Dennis Santos and reinforcement Henry Iloka of Nigeria — with a 17-14 win to punch a finals ticket.
“The team deserved this after everything they went through for the past two years. But there are still more games to be won. This is just the start for the team,” said Mr. Ayo as the Cebu Chooks earned a $10,000 grand prize or more than P500,000.
The Cebu Chooks also booked a ticket to the Chooks-to-Go FIBA 3x3 World Tour Manila Masters on May 28-29 at SM Megamall, where it is out to claim more glory.
“Gusto namin dalhin itong momentum na ito sa mga upcoming tournaments pa namin. Kaunti pa lang ito kung maituturing sa results na gusto namin (We want to bring this momentum to our upcoming tournaments. This is a small amount when it comes to the results we are after),” said Mr. Tallo.
As the runner-up, Mongolia’s Sansar also secured a ticket to the Manila Masters plus a $5,000 reward. Sansar bested fellow Mongolian squad Zaisan in the semis, 18-15.
In a side event prior to the finals, teen sensation Aldous Torculas from University of the Philippines scored an upset over seasoned bet David Carlos to win the Sudan Daniel Slam Dunk Contest plus a P20,000 prize. — John Bryan Ulanday
THE SCORES:
Cebu 17 – Tallo 8, Nzeusseu 7, Huang 2, Ramirez 0.
Sansar 15 – Onolbaatar 9, Ariunbold 4, Batzorig 1, Avarzed 1.