CEBU CITY. – The sun has set for Manila Chooks! in a memorable world stage campaign filled with lessons that should serve the team in good stead.
Top seed Ub Huishan NE of Serbia trounced Manila Chooks! 21-14 (1:21) Sunday in their knockout quarterfinals duel in the Chooks-to-Go FIBA 3×3 World Tour Cebu Masters before a packed crowd at the SM Seaside City Cebu here.
Marko Brankovic completed a two-point play that sealed the Serbians’ berth in the semifinals of the prestigious two-day tilt opposite Miami of the United States.
The US turned back Puerto Rico’s San Juan in the second game of the Last Eight.
The Netherlands’ Amsterdam HiPRO downed Ulaanbaatar MMC Energy of Mongolia 21-15 also in the quarterfinals.
Vienna of Austria tackled China’s Wuxi at press time last night in the final tiff of the Last Eight.
World No. 1 Strahinja Stojacic showed the way for Ub Huishan NE with 11 points and four rebounds, while Dejan Majstorovic chipped in six markers and five boards.
Brankovic and Vladimir Dordevic also combined for four points for the fancied Serbians.
“Natalo kami dahil sa experience ng Ub. Kaya namin silang tapatan sa way maglaro pero dahil doon sa chemistry ng Ub and at the same time iyong experience nila, ang hirap talunin kapag ganoon,” Manila Chooks! head trainer Chico Lanete said.
“Pero, ang good thing is sina Mac (Tallo) and the other players hindi sila nag-give up,” he added.
