WILL the FIBA 3×3 World Tour Masters tourneys return to the Philippines?
There’s a possibility, if the country returns to some sort of normalcy, according to FIBA 3×3 managing director Alex Sanchez.
“We were close to having a Manila Masters,” Sanchez said. “The issue is the current pandemic.”
The last time the Philippines hosted a World Tour Masters tilt was in 2015.
Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas 3×3 has sent teams to four FIBA 3×3 World Tour Masters tournaments even with the deadly COVID-19 pandemic.
The results have not favored the squad, with the squad going 1-1 in the qualifying draw of the Doha Masters while going winless in both the main draw of both the Montreal and Abu Dhabi Masters, however.
In November last year, Manila Chooks TM saw action in the Doha Masters.
This year, Manila Chooks TM vied in the Doha, Montreal, and Abu Dhabi Masters.
Sanchez is convinced Manila could play host to the World Tour Masters anew.
“We had a nice venue chosen together,” he said. “I’m optimistic that in 2022, we will be having more events together.”
Composed of Mac Tallo, Zach Huang, Chico Lanete and Mark Yee, who replaced Cameroonian big man Mike Harry Nzeusseu, who is nursing a left hand injury before the tilt, Manila Chooks TM finished 11th out of 14 teams in the recently concluded Abu Dhabi Masters.
Utrecht, Minakami, and Abu Dhabi were the bottom three teams.
