PH 3×3 teams gear up for Haining Challenger

MANILA, Philippines – To continue in its mission to rack up FIBA 3×3 points for the country, Chooks-to-Go, together with the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas, are fielding two teams in the 2019 Hongxiang Holdings Group Haining Challenger in China this weekend.

Balanga Chooks and Isabela City Chooks (Phenom-Basilan Steel) are set to compete in the level 9-FIBA tournament serving as qualifier for the Montreal Masters.

“We were only invited to the tournament with just one-week notice. But we need to join this tournament to continue to gather more points for the country,” said Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas 3×3 league owner Ronald Mascariñas.

Rest assured that the teams are preparing hard and will give their best in representing the country,” added Chooks 3×3 league commissioner Eric Altamirano.

The Philippines is currently ranked at No. 34 in the men’s division.

Composing Balanga is the usual quartet of Alvin Pasaol, Karl Dehesa, Chris De Chavez, and Travis Franklin.

On the other hand, Isabela City will have Roosevelt Adams, Franky Johnson, Marcus Hammonds and Gab Banal.

Banal was tapped as a guest player as Troy Rike is currently registered to play for Pasig in the FIBA 3×3 circuit.

Also present in the event were SBP officials Butch Antonio, Jong Uichico, and 10 regional directors.

Speaking on behalf of the federation, Antonio shared that the federation is throwing its all-out support for this endeavor of Chooks-to-Go.

“We would like to tell everybody that our [full] support is with the teams,” said the SBP director of operations. 

Unlike in the Moscow Challenger, Balanga is seeded in the main draw together with top seed Liman of Serbia (Saturday, June 29, 2:30 pm) and No. 8 Sosnovy Bor (4:15 pm) in Pool A.

Isabela City, on the other hand, will have to go through Mongolian clubs Sukhbaatar (9 am) and Taikhar (10:40 am) to earn a spot in Pool C that features Russian teams Gagarin and Moscow Inanomo. – Rappler.com