Chooks-to-Go president and the godfather of 3x3 basketball in the country, Ronald Mascariñas, made his long-awaited return to the place that helped start it all—the Sisters of Mary School Girlstown—and pledged a generous donation of P1.4 million along with sports equipment for the school and one Chooks-to-Go meal every month for all the 2,220 students of the school.
Before the festivities start in the most prestigious international basketball event to ever happen in Cebu, the Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas FIBA 3x3 World Tour Cebu Masters, Mascariñas and the country's top players retraced the very same steps they took that led to the birth of their mission to develop the sport of 3x3 basketball in the Philippines.
Mascariñas was welcomed warmly by the students of the same place where Chooks-to-Go organized an age group 3x3 basketball tournament in 2019 which broke the world record for the most number of players with 3,043 participants.
"Three years ago, nangako kami na babalik kami dito pero nangyari yung pandemic," said Mascariñas. "Humihingi kami ng paumanhin at babawi kami sa inyo.
"Sa nakikita ko rito sa Sisters of Mary Girlstown, maganda ang kinabukasan ng ating bansa dahil sa inyo. Sana makatulong itong aming regalo sa inyo para sa operasyon ng Girlstown," added Mascariñas.
As a show of gratitude to Mascariñas and Chooks-to-Go, the students of the school prepared a program where they displayed their various talents to entertain their benefactor and guests.
Accompanying Mascariñas in visiting the school were the teams of Cebu Chooks made up of Mac Tallo, Zach Huang, Brandon Ramirez, Mike Harry Nzeusseu, and Vince Tolentino and Manila Chooks composed of playing coach Chico Lanete, Dennis Santos, Henry Iloka, Dave Ando, and Ken Holmqvist. Nzeusseu gamely sang along with one of the students to the tune of “Pusong Bato” which delighted the entire audience.
"I have never experienced anything like this back in Canada," said PH no. 3 player Brandon Ramirez. "It's definitely life-changing. Both Cebu and Manila Chooks will be fighting for everyone here when we compete not just in the Cebu Masters but in all our tournaments."
School Principal Sister Laresa Morasa, SM said in thanking Mascariñas, “Matagal namin kayong hinintay. Ang mga bata, madalas nagtatanong kung kelan babalik dito ang Chooks-to-Go. Nagpapasalamat kami sa Chooks-to-Go. Worth it ang paghihintay namin."