By JONAS TERRADO
Action-packed games are expected Wednesday as the Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas 3×3 formally starts the President’s Cup under a bubble setup at the Inspire Sports Academy in Calamba, Laguna.
Games will start at 1 p.m. with the first of five legs featuring 12 teams that already got a feel of how things are going to be following Monday’s preseason leg filled by physicality and competitiveness.
“Maganda rin talaga na nagkaroon kami ng preseason because we were able to see ano pa dapat nating ayusin,” Chooks 3×3 commissioner Eric Altamirano said during Tuesday’s appearance in the Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum.
“Everybody, di lang players pati officials and referees, napansin ko na they’ve been rusty as they’ve been away from basketball for a very long time. So it was a good exercise for (Wednesday’s first) leg,” he added.
Zamboanga City-Family’s Brand Sardines won the preseason leg after defeating Bacolod-Master Sardines 21-17 in Monday’s preseason final, earning the top purse of P50,000 and bragging rights going into the President’s Cup.
The team is considered as the top favorite to rule the two-week competition, with national team players Joshua Munzon and Alvin Pasaol, Troy Rike and Santi Santillan on the Zamboanga City roster.
Other teams in the President’s Cup are Bicol Paxful SMDC, Butuan City-Uling Roasters, Nueva Ecija, Palayan City, Pagadian City-Rocky Sports, Pasig-Sta. Lucia, Petro Cement-Roxas City, Big Boss Cement-Porac MSC, Sarangani and Zamboanga Peninsula.
Like in the preseason, teams will be split into four divisions with each of the top two advancing to the playoffs which are all knockout affairs.
The next three legs are slated Oct. 23, 25 and 27 followed by the Grand Finals which gives the champion P1-million set Oct.30.
