SANTA ROSA. – Cebu Chooks! and Manila Chooks! bolstered their semifinal bids as the two squads remained spotless in the 2022 Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas 3×3 Quest 2.0 on Sunday at the Ayala Malls Solenad here.
The country’s two best 3×3 teams tote identical 2-0 records, with Cebu the first to get to that point after a 21-15 conquest of Butuan Chooks.
Balanced was the victors’ attack, with Mike Harry Nzesseu at the forefront with eight points. Mac Tallo provided five points, including the clincher as the top-ranked squad needed just a little over eight minutes to finish the match.
Marcus Hammonds also had five as Brandon Ramirez added three for the Pool A leaders, who can sweep their way to the semis against Botolan Hayati later.
Manila then notched win No. 2 after frustrating Paul Desiderio and Talisay EGS 19-10 in the eighth match of the day.
Dennis Santos led the way with 11 points on three deuces. Henry Iloka and Dave Ando provided support with five and three markers, respectively, as the No. 2 team in the country remained on top of Pool B.
Manila has the opportunity to reach the semis unblemished when it takes on the GenSan Warriors later in the final match of group play.
Botolan Hayati and Quezon City Ericcson kept their playoff hopes alive as they barged into the win column after flat starts.
The crew of Gerald Anderson was the first to break through with a 21-18 escape of Makati MNL Kingpin, and QC followed suit after drubbing GenSan, 22-10.
Cebu Chooks! handed the debuting Makati MNL Kingpin a 21-11 beatdown earlier, with Hammonds showing the way with 11 points, including the game-sealing deuce with 22.7 seconds left.
Mike Harry Nzeusseu finished with five points, Mac Tallo scored three, while Brandon Ramirez added two for Cebu, which is out for redemption after an early exit in the recent FIBA 3×3 World Tour Riyadh Masters.
They shared Pool A leadership with Butuan Chooks! as the Chooks program’s developmental unit dominated Botolan Hayati 21-9.
JP Cauilan led the assault with 14 points, while Jason Strait and Moustapha Arafat combined for seven markers as the squad gave the team of celebrity cager Gerald Anderson a harsh welcome to the competition.
