DOWN to their knees after falling short in the International Standalone Quest last Friday, the Cebu Chooks! and Manila Chooks! 3×3 squads have been given another chance to prove their worth.
The two Philippine teams are set to do battle in the Chooks-to-Go FIBA 3×3 World Tour Cebu Masters from Oct. 1 to 2 at the SM Seaside. The FIBA 3×3 panel granted both squads slots in the top-level tournament.
By virtue of being the host, Cebu was given a wild card slot in the main draw, while Manila was handed a qualifying draw berth for being the second-ranked team in the country.
Cebu’s Mac Tallo, Zach Huang, Brandon Ramirez, Vince Tolentino, and Mike Nzeusseu and Manila’s Chico Lanete, Dennis Santos, Henry Iloka, Dave Ando, and Ken Holmqvist promptly hit the ground running and arrived in the Queen City of the South last Tuesday to toughen up for the tilt.
“Bago kami umalis, sinabi ko sa boys na hindi ito bakasyon,” Chooks head trainer Chico Lanete said. “Todo trabaho kami dito hanggang September 30.”
“Just grateful. We were down after the Quest, but this opportunity gave us a new lease in life. Really thankful to FIBA and our boss (Ronald Mascariñas) for this opportunity,” Iloka said.
