CAN title favorite Family’s Brand Sardines-Zamboanga City Chooks get the job done?
That will be known today when Zamboanga City seeks the crown in the grand finals of the 2020 Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas 3×3 President’s Cup powered by TM at the Inspire Sports Academy in Calamba, Laguna.
Family’s Brand Sardines goes to battle at 11 a.m. in a game to be streamed on Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas Facebook and FIBA 3×3 YouTube and airing on BEAM TV Ch. 31 as the top seed after winning the title in three of the four legs.
Uling Roasters-Butuan City, Nueva Ecija, and Pasig-Sta. Lucia Realtors complete the top four seeds in the country’s first pro 3×3 league energized by hydration partner Gatorade.
Butuan City gained the second-seed after amassing 330 points in the first four legs, while Nueva Ecija (240 points) and Pasig (215 points) emerged as the third and fourth-ranked teams, respectively.
They await the winners in four knockout matches, with Big Boss Cement-Porac MSC Green Gorillas (No. 8) and Zamboanga Peninsula Valientes MLV (No. 9) kicking off the last leg.
That will be followed by games between the Palayan City Capitals (No. 5) and MLV Pagadian Rocky Sports (No. 12), the Sarangani Marlins (No. 6) and the Petra Cement-Roxas ZN Rockies (No. 11), and Bacolod-Master Sardines (No. 7) and Bicol Paxful 3×3 Pro (No. 10).
Zamboanga City center Troy Rike is convinced the squad made up of Fil-Am forward Joshua Munzon, wingman Alvin Pasaol, and big man Leonard Santillan has what it takes to win the P1 million pot money but warned they cannot take their foes lightly.
“We’re going for the championship. We have all the talent, all the tools, all the experience to do it,” Rike said. “It’s not gonna be easy. Other teams are gonna go for it too, but for us, we’re gunning for that championship.”
Zamboanga City also ruled the preseason of the FIBA 3×3-endorsed tournament, supervised by the Games and Amusements Board and sanctioned by the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas.
Family’s Brand Sardines is also using the tourney to toughen up for the FIBA 3×3 Olympic qualifying tournament set next year.
The runner-up in the grand finals will bag P300,000 and the third-place will win P100,000.
The ultimate TM Slam Dunk Competition may also be the final flight of “Air” David Carlos as he competes with Darwin Cantong and Jesus Manay for P20,000, while the ultimate TM Two-Point Shootout will yet again feature the deadliest shooters against each other with P10,000 at stake.
