WITH two powerful reinforcements on their side, the ARQ Builders-Cebu will be looking to make use of their size and heft advantage when they compete in the Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas Invitational powered by TM on Wednesday at the Laus Events Center in San Fernando, Pampanga.
Former University of Cebu standout Frederick Elombi and ex-Southwestern University ace Landry Sanjo will be teaming up with Monbert Arong and RJ Dinolan in a supersized roster that head coach Jerry Abuyabor hopes will be enough to take the crown.
“With this talent, we just want to prove that Cebu basketball can also play 3x3,” said Abuyabor.
“Our first goal is to be on the quarterfinals, and from there, we want to take it one game at a time. We have so much love and excitement for this lineup. It’s a joy for our foreign Cesafi players to be back on the court after 18 months,” he added.
The ARQ Buiilders indeed have plenty of talent on their roster. In Sanjo, they have a former Cesafi Best Import award-winner who led SWU to the crown in 2014. Elombi, meanwhile, helped lead UC to the Cesafi finals in 2018. Arong played for SWU before moving on to Far Eastern University. He has also played in the D-League, the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League, and just recently, the VisMin Cup, where he suited up for ARQ.
Dinolan is a former star of the University of San Jose-Recoletos who has also played for Cebu in the MPBL.
“We might have size advantage, but it doesn’t mean they will be complacent with the game. 3x3 transition is so quick, so we just want to contain every possession the opponents have,” explained Abuyabor.
The ARQ Builders will be facing off against a tough field headlined by HeiHei Manila, who will have Cebuano basketball star Macmac Tallo along with Zach Huang, Chico Lanete and Mike Nzeusseu.
Returning to the league is 6-foot-7 Cameroonian Chibueze Ikeh. Ikeh, who previously played for Inoza Bulacan in the 2019 Patriot's Cup, will reinforce Essen Immunoboost Sarangani -- a team that has Ronjay Buenafe, Paul Sanga, and Donald Gumaru.
The other imports are Cameroonian Hamadou Laminou (BRT Sumisip-Basilan), Nigerian Henry Iloka (RBR Cabiao Nueva Ecija), and Eugene Toba (Pasig Kingpins).
"We opened up the one-day Invitational tournament that we have to imports for the sole reason that these former student-athletes have not played for such a long time and have been stranded in our country since the pandemic," said Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas 3x3 league owner Ronald Mascariñas.
"This will also help our local players in adjusting to the global FIBA 3x3 game as there are a lot of skilled 6-foot-6 and above players in those competitions," he added.
Basilan will also have Junjie Hallare, Shaq Alanes, and Darwin Lunor; Nueva Ecija has Ian Dela Torre, Ichie Altamirano, and King Importante; while Pasig features Ryan and Nikki Monteclaro along with Jaypee Belencion.
The other teams in this tournament that will see the champion take home P100,000 while the second and third place finishers will bank P50,000 and P20,000, respectively, are Pacquiao Coffee Bacolod, Homegrown Grains Bocaue, AMACOR Mandaluyong, Adam Esli Pasay, MNL Kingpin Quezon City, and Zamboanga Valientes MLV.
Zamboanga will have an all-homegrown team in Paulino Rebollos, David Sebastian, Gino Jumao-as, and Alex Mohammad. The Valientes have yet to miss a Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas 3x3 tournament.
Bocaue will have Dennis Santos, Mark Yee, Ralph Tansingco, and Jayvee Marcelino while Bacolod will be composed of JK Casino, Cyrus Tabi, Joseph Eriobu, and Jayjay Manlangit.
Pasay has Jan Jamon, Elvin Chan, Jerome Pasia, and Agosto Flor; Mandaluyong has Michael Macaballug, Janus Lozada, Martin Gozum, and Marvin Hayes; while Quezon City has Jerome Garcia, Mon Mabayo, John Amboludto, and Joseph Peñaredondo.
This one-day tournament that is endorsed by FIBA 3x3, regulated by the Games and Amusements Board, and is supported by Gatorade will air on Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas' Facebook page and on FIBA 3x3's Youtube channel. (JNP)