Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas 3×3 will re-ignite the domestic 3×3 basketball scene with a one-day invitational tournament that will jumpstart its new season.
Twelve teams will compete in the 2021 Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas 3×3 Invitational powered by TM on Wednesday at the Laus Events Centre in San Fernando, Pampanga.
For league owner Ronald Mascariñas, it's been too long since the country had a 3×3 tournament with the last being the President's Cup held in October 2020 at the Inspire Sports Academy in Calamba, Laguna.
"The pandemic has really affected our goal of garnering valuable FIBA 3×3 points for the country in our dream of qualifying for the 2024 Paris Olympics," said Mascariñas. "For us to re-ignite the fire of our stakeholders and team owners, we organized this one-day tournament which has no entry fee.
"It's about time 3×3 basketball returned," he added.
The 12 teams competing are HeiHei Manila, Pacquiao Coffee Bacolod, BRT Sumisip Basilan, Homegrown Grains Bocaue, AMACOR Mandaluyong, RBR Cabiao Nueva Ecija, Pasig Kingpins, Adam Esli Pasay, MNL Kingpin Quezon City, Essen Immunoboost Sarangani, Zamboanga Valientes, and ARQ Builders Cebu.
The one-day meet that is also supported by Gatorade, Chooks! — the soon-to-be-launched dine-in restaurant of Chooks-to-Go, Uling Roasters, and Adobo Connection will still follow the FIBA 3×3 World Tour format with the 12 teams being pooled in groups of three. The top two teams in each group will advance to the knockout playoffs on the same day.
Teams are allowed to tap foreign reinforcements as well.
The champion team will take home P100,000. The second and third place finishers will bank P50,000 and P20,000, respectively.
Last Saturday, the league met with representatives from the 12 teams to discuss the health and safety protocols and, as well as, the FIBA 3×3 rules.
"I commend the company for preparing for this event. I am so thankful to Chooks-to-Go for pulling off this event kasi it's time to go back to normal," said league doctor Dr. Jefferson Pagsisihan "Definitely, it is possible to have this safe event for as long as the teams and the league will adhere to the rules of GAB and the IATF, we will be able to do this tournament.
"For all the players, just come and play. We will take care of the safety and health of everyone. Just play and entertain the people because we need 3×3 back," assured Pagsisihan.
"Ready kami because we have reviewed the rules of FIBA 3×3," said league technical head Comm. Hector Villanueva about this tournament that is regulated by the Games and Amusements Board and endorsed by FIBA 3×3. "Ang importante kasi dito is mabigay natin yung international standard of officiating in our league. Si Chooks kasi ang nagpapataas sa ranking natin kaya dapat we need to follow the same officiating as the international tournaments."
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