SANTA ROSA – Cebu Chooks signified its intentions to defend home turf by sweeping its way to the 2022 Chooks-to-Go FIBA 3×3 Asia Pacific Super Quest semifinals, Saturday at the Ayala Malls Solenad Activity Center here in Laguna.
The quartet of Mac Tallo, Zachy Huang, Brandon Ramirez, and Mike Nzeusseu conquered all three of their games to clinch the no. 1 seed in Pool B of the Level 8 FIBA 3×3 tournament that has two tickets to the 2022 Chooks-to-Go FIBA 3×3 World Tour Manila Masters at stake.
Cebu began the day with a 21-12 (7:55) victory over ABL 3×3 International Champions Cup titlists Tangerang of Indonesia behind a well-deployed attack, spearheaded by the Cameroonian forward out of Lyceum with eight points.
The battle-tested crew followed it up with a narrow 14-12 escape act against Sansar MMC Energy, before capping the group stage with a 21-10 (8:55) waylaying of Butuan Chooks that saw Tallo erupt for 12 markers.
“Kung ano yung momentum namin dito, yun lang dadalhin namin sa semis,” said 28-year-old Cebuano guard Tallo. “Hindi namin iuunderestimate kahit sinong kalaban. Stay composed lang kami palagi na kulang sa amin madalas.”
Cebu Chooks will take on Manila Chooks in the semis in a battle between FIBA 3×3 veteran squads that’s expected to go down the wire.
The ‘Manong Brigade’ of Mark Yee, Chico Lanete, Dennis Santos, and Henry Iloka got into a collision course with their fellow Philippine team after emerging as the second seed in Pool A — standings determined by point differential.
Melbourne was actually the top team in the group when it conquered both Manila and Tokyo Dime, but ultimately got eliminated following a 21-11 beating in the hands of another Mongolian team Zaisan MMC Energy.
Zaisan emerged as the best of the group for having the superior quotient among the three teams that finished with identical 2-1 records. Just behind them was Manila Chooks with 55 points, while Melbourne only had 39.
Tokyo, champions of the 2019 Asia Pacific Super Quest held at SM Megamall, went winless across three games.
Facing Zaisan in the semis is Sansar in a clash of Mongolian teams. The latter finished as the second seed in Pool B with a 2-1 record.
Sansar was quick to introduce itself with a 21-8 thrashing of Butuan Chooks, but failed to make it two in a row as it fell to Cebu. It bounced back against Tangerang, 15-12, in the conclusion of pool play to lock the no. 2 spot.
Tangerang, led by naturalized player Jamarr Johnson, failed to score a single win in its first tourney since conquering the ABL 3×3 wars.
The Scores:
First Game (Pool A)
Zaisan 21 – Chuluunbaatar 9, Gantsolmon 7, Nyandorj 3, Batsaikhan 2.
Tokyo 12 – Imori 6, Kakuta 2, Suzuki 4, Komatsu 0.
Time: 9:55.3 (Nyamdorj 2)
Second Game (Pool B)
Sansar 21 – Ariunbold 9, Onolbaatar 6, Batzorig 4, Avarzed 1.
Butuan 8 – Webb 3, Gabriel 2, Baetiong 1, Dennison 1.
Time: 5:34 (Batzorig 2)
Third Game (Pool A)
Melbourne 15 – Wright 8, Wilks 4, Golding 2, Steel 1.
Manila 13 – Iloka 5, Santos 5, Lanete 3, Yee 0.
Fourth Game (Pool B)
Cebu 21 – Nzesseu 8, Ramirez 7, Tallo 6, Huang 0.
Tangerang 12 – Johnson 5, Itun 4, Aziz 3, Sanjaya 0.
Time: 7:55 (Ramirez 2)
Fifth Game (Pool A)
Melbourne 15 – Wright 6, Steel 3, Golding 3, Wilks 3.
Tokyo 9 – Suzuki 4, Imori 3, Kakuta 1, Komatsu 1.
Sixth Game (Pool B)
Butuan 21 – Dennison 7, Webb 6, Gabriel 6, Baetiong 2.
Tangerang 20 – Aziz 7, Sanjaya 5, Itun 4, Johnson 4.
Time: 9:47.9 (Gabriel 1)
Seventh Game (Pool A)
Manila 21 – Iloka 8, Santos 5, Lanete 5, Yee 3.
Zaisan 17 – Gantsolmon 9, Chuluunbaatar 8, Nyamdorj 3, Batsaikhan 0.
Time: 9:23.3 (Santos 1)
Eighth Game (Pool B)
Cebu 14 – Tallo 5, Nzeusseu 4, Ramirez 3, Huang 2.
Sansar 12 – Ariunbold 7, Onolbaatar 3, Batzorig 2, Avarzed 0.
Ninth Game (Pool A)
Manila 21 – Iloka 10, Lanete 5, Santos 4, Yee 2.
Tokyo 16 – Suzuki 8, Imori 3, Komatsu 3, Kakuta 2.
Time: 9:32.7 (Iloka 1)
Tenth Game (Pool B)
Cebu 21 – Tallo 12, Nzeusseu 4, Ramirez 3, Huang 2.
Butuan 10 – Webb 4, Gabriel 4, Baetiong 2, Dennison 0.
Time: 8:55 (Tallo 1)
Eleventh Game (Pool A)
Zaisan 21 – Chuluunbaatar 8, Gantsolmon 8, Nyamdorj 4, Batsaikhan 1.
Melbourne 11 – Wright 6, Wilks 3, Golding 2, Steel 0.
Time: 9:12.9 (Nyamdorj 1)
Twelfth Game (Pool B)
Sansar 15 – Onolbaatar 7, Ariunbold 6, Batzorig 1, Avarzed 1.
Tangerang 12 – Aziz 4, Itun 4, Johnson 3, Sanjaya 1.
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