The Manila Chooks TM have added veteran forward Mark Yee to its pool of players as the team prepares to compete in the 2021 FIBA 3x3 Lipik Challenger in Croatia on May 21-22.
Yee is the reigning Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL) Finals MVP after he led the Davao Occidental Tigers to the Lakan Season championship earlier this year. The 6-foot-3 forward will be joining Cebuanos Macmac Tallo and Zach Huang as well as Chico Lañete and Dennis Santos.
Manila Chooks TM head trainer Aldin Ayo lauded the addition of Yee to the pool, saying the 39-year old’s versatility and veteran smarts will be valuable to the squad.
"Mark Yee is a good addition to our pool since he stretches the floor and has been known to be a good defender in the post," said Ayo of the native of Sagay City, Negros Occidental.
In Lipik, Manila Chooks TM will once again be in the qualifying draw with Croatia's Split, Puerto Rico's San Juan, Germany's Bielefeld TSVE and Dusseldorf LFDY, and the winner of a Quest tournament in Russia. The groupings for the two qualifying draw pools have yet to be revealed.
Also in the level-10 tournament that features a prize pool of US$35,000 are Serbia's Liman and Novi Sad; USA's NY Harlem; Canada's Edmonton; Mongolia's Ulaanbaatar and Sansar; Latvia's Jelgava; Czech Republic's Humpolec; Belgrade's Antwerp; and Japan's Aomi.
The team has been training at the Lucena Convention Center in Quezon since May 13. The short seven-day camp was given approval by the Games and Amusements Board and Quezon's local government unit.
"We would like to thank the Games and Amusements Board, headed by chairman Baham Mitra, for helping us find a training venue for our team. We are also grateful to Quezon Governor Danilo Suarez and provincial sports head Jonas Guiao for accomodating our team," said Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas 3x3 league owner Ronald Mascariñas.
"GAB is always here to help our pro teams. We wish the team nothing but the best in their competition in Croatia," said GAB chairman Mitra.
Also in the bubble are practice player Jom Sollano, coaches McJour Luib and Marvin Pangilinan and staff member Mark Ordoñez. (JNP)