Tallo powers Manila to Chooks 3×3 Invitational crown

Mac Tallo did not allow Manila HeiHei to suffer an upset, leading his side to a dominant 21-6 (5:19) win over the experienced Pasig Kingpin in the final of the 2021 Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas 3×3 Invitational, Wednesday, October 20, at the Laus Events Centre here.

Tallo dropped 13 points in the contest built on 5 triples as he got off to a hot start, scoring 7 of Manila’s first 8 points to give them an 8-1 lead.

Chico Lanete and Tallo also did it on both ends as they stifled Pasig’s gunslinging brothers Ryan and Nikki Monteclaro. The Monteclaros only had a point each in the contest.

With Manila’s Mike Nzeusseu hurting his left hand during their semis encounter against ARQ Builders-Cebu, Zach Huang stepped up in defending Toba Eugene while scoring 5 as well.

Tallo knocked down the championship-clinching deuce with 4:41 left, marking the finals as the fastest game of the day as well. It gave them an additional P10,000 on top of their P100,000 prize in this tournament endorsed by FIBA 3×3, regulated by the Games and Amusements Board, and supported by TM, Wilson Basketball, Homegrown Grains, and Adam Ezli.

“Happy that this tournament happened,” said Manila head trainer Aldin Ayo as the team is set to compete in the 2021 FIBA 3×3 World Tour Abu Dhabi Masters on October 29. 

“I hope that they got the confidence and the rhythm. It’s important that we simulate the actual situations and we can’t do that in practice,” added Ayo.

Manila overcame Cebu, 21-19, in the semis. During a rebounding scrum, Nzeusseu suffered a hand injury when he was battling with Landry Sanjo with 1:58 left in that contest.

“I hope he recovers in time for Abu Dhabi,” Ayo said of his Cameroonian reinforcement. “He has a big responsibility with our team and he has to overcome that. It’s not a major injury.”

Pasig, on the other hand, made it rain on Essen Immunoboost Sarangani in the semis, taking a 21-15 (7:56) win.

Sarangani finished third.

David Carlos showed no rust after a one-year absence, reigning supreme in the Sudan Slam Dunk Competition. He defeated Nhomar Gonzales and 5-foot-5 wunderkind Lennon Albiso to bank P20,000.

AMACOR Mandaluyong’s Janus Lozada won the two-point shootout after making nine of his 10 attempts. He brought home P10,000.

Mandaluyong, Bocaue, Pacquiao Coffee Bacolod, and BRT Sumimsip Basilan rounded out the top eight.

The Scores

Manila 21 – Tallo 13, Huang 5, Nzeusseu 2, Lanete 1.

Pasig 6 – Eugene 3, Monteclaro R. 1, Monteclaro N. 1, Belencion 1.

– Rappler.com