The Philippines will seek decent finishes against the world’s top teams when action fires off in the 2022 Chooks-to-Go FIBA 3×3 World Tour Manila Masters on Saturday at Ayala Mall Manila Bay’s events center in Pasay City.
Manila Chooks and Cebu Chooks will meet their rivals in Pools A and D in late afternoon matches, while Tokyo Olympics fourth placer Antwerp of Belgium looks to make matters tough in Pool B.
Cebu Chooks, reinforced by the two top-ranked players from the Philippines, Mac Tallo (world no. 111th) and Zach Huang, (199th), clashes with Ub Huishan NE of Serbia at 3 p.m., and Mongolia’s Zavkhan MMC Energy. Ub Huishan NE, Serbia.
Manila Chooks will have Chico Lanete, Henry Iloka, Dennis Santos, and 6’8” Fil-Norwegian Ken Holmqvist as they take on Mongolian rivals Ulaanbaatar at 4:25 p.m. and Zaisan MMC Energy at 8:25 p.m. in the Pool A hostilities.
Cebu recently pulled off title romp in the 2022 Chooks-to-Go FIBA 3×3 Asia Pacific Super Quest, while Ub is fresh from its conquest of the Utsunomiya Masters.
The presence of the world’s no. 2 team, Antwerp of Belgium in Pool B will make matters challenging as it seeks a first-ever championship in Manila.
The Belgians, who claimed the Dubai Expo 3×3 Super Quest last March, are led by three members of their 3×3 national squad that placed 4th in the Tokyo Olympics.
The cagers, composed of 6’5” Thibaut Vervoort, are ranked 4th in the world, while 6’5” Nick Celis, is 5th in the world.
The 6’6” Rafael Bogaerts, ranked 15th, is also around, along with the world no. 36th ranked 6’5” Bryan De Valck.
Antwerp will have a matchup against no.7 seed Sansar MMC Energy (MGL) at 3:25 p.m.
The prize pool for the tournament is set at $122,000 (P6,375,415), with $40,000 (P2,090,300) going to the champion.