BY MICHAEL JUGADO and ABBY TORALBA
SANTA ROSA. — Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas 3×3 squads need to go back to the salt mines.
Manila Chooks! head trainer Chico Lanete remains optimistic about his team’s fate in the FIBA 3×3 World Tour Cebu Masters next month.
“So much pressure sa amin ngayon so hindi kami puwedeng makampante. Wala kaming iniisip na kami iyong best na 3×3 (team) ngayon dahil obvious naman, third place, pero hindi ako mag-gi-give up,” Lanete said.
“Of course, (with the support of) the management, we’ll keep on improving ang improving hanggang sa pagdating sa Cebu Masters,” he added.
Manila Chooks, bannered by country’s No. 1 3×3 player Mac Tallo, failed in its mission to gain a slot to the Cebu Masters after finishing third in the Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas 3×3 Quest 3.0 at the Ayala Malls Solenad last Saturday.
Wilcon Depot 3×3 Quezon City ruled the tourney and bagged the slot for the Cebu Masters, a FIBA 3×3 level 10 competition and part of the 13-city World Tour, set on Sept. 23 to 24.
As host, Chooks-to-Go has a wildcard spot to join Wilcon Quezon City in representing the country in the prestigious tilt.
Lanete said his troops have to improve on their maturity and fortitude.
“Both Manila and Cebu Chooks! kulang pa talaga sa maturity and siyempre sa decision making. At the same time, kahit paano, iyong chemistry nandoon pero ang very important iyong maturity ng Manila and Cebu Chooks! team so iyan ang i-wo-work on namin by next week,” he said.
“Of course, sinabi ko lang sa kanila siyempre kahit third place, (naging) all out pa rin tayo. Siyempre para naman din kahit paano iyong pride natin sa team nandoon pa din.”
