REYNALD MAGALLON
Santa Rosa, Laguna – The Philippine bets were off to a rough start as only Manila Chooks! managed to pick up the victory in their opening games in the Chooks-to-Go International Standalone Quest at the Ayala Mall Solenad here on Friday, Sept. 16
Manila, composed of Dave Ando, Dennis Santos, Henry Iloka and Chooks 3×3 head trainer Chico Lanete took down Kuala Lumpur Aseel, 21-14, to give the Filipinos in attendance something to cheer for after both Cebu Chooks! and Butuan Chooks! dropped their respective opening games.
Having a hard time to shake off Kuala Lumpur despite the stellar start from both Iloka and Santos, Lanete took charge in the latter part of the contest drilling three straight deuces to turn back the Malaysians and end the game with still 1:34 left in the clock.
Iloka finished with eight points while Lanete added seven as Manila looks to finish atop the Pool A standings and advance to the semifinals of the tournament where a spot in the main draw of the Chooks-to-Go FIBA 3×3 World Tour Cebu Masters in October is at stake.
Cebu, on the other hand, opened the tournament on the wrong foot following a 13-11 defeat at the hands of Japan’s Saitama Alpha, 13-11.
Butuan also suffered the same fate as the trio of JP Cawilan, Jason Strait, Orin Catacutan and Prince Eze was dealt a 22-7 beatdown by a much-experienced Zaisan MMC Energy from Mongolia.
