The Cebu and Manila Chooks! 3x3 squads are in Cebu already to start their grueling preparations for the 2022 Chooks-to-Go FIBA 3x3 World Tour Cebu Masters on October 1 and 2 at the SM Seaside.
For the next 10 days, Cebu's Mac Tallo, Zach Huang, Brandon Ramirez, Vince Tolentino, and Mike Nzeusseu and Manila's Chico Lanete, Dennis Santos, Henry Iloka, Dave Ando, and Ken Holmqvist will be hard at work as they prepare to do battle against a slew of top-notch international squads.
Also competing in the tournament are Belgium's Antwerp, Latvia's Riga, the Netherlands' Amsterdam, Saudi Arabia's Jeddah, Switzerland's Lausanne, Mongolia's Sansar, USA's Omaha, Japan's Utsunomiya and Saitama, India's Ludhiana, and Qatar's Doha.
Cebu and Manila were granted spots in this prestigious tournament by FIBA 3x3. By virtue of being the host, Cebu was set as the Wild Card in the main draw. Meanwhile, Manila was granted a Qualifying Draw spot for being the second-ranked team in the country.
For the country's top 3x3 player Tallo, being around familiar surroundings just might be what the doctor ordered for them to get back on track.
"Change of scenery ito, eh. Siyempre hometown namin ni Zach to," said Tallo, a native of Cebu City. "Baka ito na yung kailangan namin as a team."
But it won't be just a homecoming for Tallo and Huang as there is a lot of work to be done with the squad still feeling the sting of their fifth-place finish in the Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas 3x3 International Standalone Quest last Friday.
Meanwhile, Iloka and Manila plan to not take the opportunity given to them for granted.
"Just grateful," said Iloka as they were just one win away from being in the final of the Chooks 3x3 Quest. "We were down after the Quest but this opportunity gave us a new lease in life. Really thankful to FIBA and our Boss (Ronald MascariƱas) for this opportunity."
Cebu and Manila Chooks! will be training around the city, holding sessions at Abellana Oval, City Sports, and Cebu Eastern College Court this week.
"Bago kami umalis, sinabi ko sa boys na hindi ito bakasyon. Todo trabaho kami dito hanggang September 30," said head trainer Chico Lanete.