CEBU Chooks leads the cast of teams that are competing in the 2022 Chooks-to-Go FIBA 3x3 Asia Pacific Super Quest which kicks off on Saturday, April 30, at the Ayala Malls Solenad in Sta. Rosa, Laguna.
Cebu Chooks—the country’s top 3x3 squad—will be tasked to defend their home court, and is primed to do so after a scintillating showing during the 2022 FIBA 3x3 Dubai Expo Super Quest last March 31.
Cebu Chooks gave Tokyo Olympics gold medalist Riga of Latvia a scare before falling, 17-21. Cebu Chooks came back strong the next game to stun Chicago, 21-15. Chicago was led by Craig Moore and Zahir Carrington, the 3rd and 4th best 3x3 players in the United States.
The team, which is composed of Mac Tallo, Brandon Ramirez, Zach Huang, and Mike Harry Nzeusseu, have been training for the past two months under Coach Aldin Ayo.
The teams will be divided into two pools for the main draw with home team Manila Chooks being slotted in Pool A along with Mongolia's Zaisan MMC Energy, Australia's Melbourne Hoop City, and Japan's Tokyo Dime.
Meanwhile, Cebu Chooks will face Mongolia's Sansar MMC Energy, Indonesia's Tangerang, and Butuan Chooks in Pool B.
Expected to lead the charge for the Filipinos will be Tallo who is the country’s highest-ranked 3x3 player. Tallo is 175th in the FIBA 3x3 world rankings.
Sansar is the older of the two Mongolian teams joining the Asia Pacific Super Quest. It is also the bigger one and is equally potent.
The team will be led by 21-year-old Sukhbat Batzorig, who at 148th in the FIBA world rankings is the second highest-ranked player in the competition next only to his compatriot, Gantsolmon. Joining Batzorig in the Sansar roster at Anand Aruinbold, Enkhbaatar Onolbaatar, and Gansukh Avarzed.
Tangerang will be parading the same line-up that carried the name of the Indonesia Patriots A which won the Asean Basketball League 3x3 International Champion’s Cup last April 17. Composing the team are 6-foot-5 Jamarr Johnson, Surliyadin Itun, Sandy Aziz, and Oki Wira Sanjaya.
Butuan, which will be composed of Alvin Baetiong, Jonjon Gabriel, Joshua Webb, and Cebuano Ron Dennison, will be looking to pull off a surprise or two in the Asia Pacific Super Quest.
Meanwhile, Manila Chooks will be the 'manong brigade' of the Philippine contingent.
The team is comprised of two reliable bigs in 6-foot-9 former Ateneo Blue Eagle Chibueze Ike and 6-foot-5 Dennis Santos and two veterans in Mark Yee and Chico Lanete.
This level 8 tournament, which will serve as a qualifier for the top level 2022 Chooks-to-Go FIBA 3x3 World Tour Manila Masters, will tip off at 12:00NN on Saturday. (JNP)