Cebuano standouts Macmac Tallo and Zachy Huang will face off against some of the very best 3x3 teams in the world when they suit up for Manila Chooks TM in the 2021 FIBA 3x3 World Tour Doha Masters on March 26 to 27 in Qatar.
Long considered one of the finest offensive talents Cebu has ever seen, the 6-foot-1 Tallo will be in his element in the 3x3 game. A former two-time Cesafi MVP who led Southwestern University-Phinma to the 2014 Cesafi title, Tallo was eventually selected 10th overall by TNT in the 2017 PBA draft.
After playing for TNT and then, NLEX, Tallo moved on to play for Bacolod and then, Manila, in the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League, before eventually getting tapped by Chooks-to-Go 3x3 head coach Aldin Ayo to play for the Manila Chooks.
Huang, meanwhile, is just coming off a stellar collegiate career with the University of Santo Tomas Growling Tigers where he showcased his all-around skills. He also got to briefly play for his hometown Cebu-Casino Ethyl Alcohol in the MPBL.
Joining the two Cebuanos are veteran guard Chico Lañete and little-known big man Dennis Santos, a 6-foot-5 forward who last played for Bulacan Kuyas in the MPBL.
Manila Chooks TM is seeded 13th out of 14 teams that will feature 10 of the top-ranked 3x3 teams in the world. This includes world no. 1 Liman of Serbia and 2020 World Tour champion no. 2 Riga of Latvia. No. 3 Ub of Serbia, American squads NY Harlem and Princeton, and former World Tour champion Novi Sad will also be competing. (JNP)