Header Ads Widget

Mascarinas to Pasig, 1Bataan ahead of World Tour: "You are fighting for our country"

Ronald Mascarinas gave Pasig and 1Bataan some words of encouragement ahead of the FIBA 3x3 World Tour Doha Masters. Chooks-To-Go Pilipinas
By Ivan Saldajeno

PASIG--Even during the holidays, the Philippines will have to grind it out for a shot at making the inaugural Summer Olympics 3x3 event.

Pasig and 1Bataan will fly out to Doha to compete in the FIBA 3x3 World Tour Doha Masters slated for Maundy Thursday and Good Friday, when they are supposed to reflect on Jesus Christ's sacrifice on the cross for them to be redeemed.

Even Bounty Agro-Ventures Inc. president Ronald Mascarinas is aware of that.

"We know that this entails a lot of sacrifice for you since lalaban kayo ng Holy Week," Mascarinas said during the send-off luncheon for the two squads at Crowne Plaza on Friday.

But he later motivated the clubs, saying, "Always remember, ang laban na ito ay para sa bayan. You are fighting for our country."

Pasig, seeded eighth in the Doha Masters, are grouped in Pool A with top-seeded Liman of Serbia and host team Katara.

On the other hand, the 11th-seeded Risers, to be named Balanga Chooks for the said tourney, have Latvia's Riga Ghetto, seeded third and Russia's Moscow Inanomo, seeded sixth, in their own group, Pool C.

Making sure it can compete in Pool A, Pasig made a tweak to its lineup, bringing in French 3x3 veteran Angelo Tsagarakis to join Nikola Pavlovic, Joshua Munzon, and Taylor Statham.

On the other hand, 1Bataan will stick to the lineup it had during the inaugural Chooks-To-Go Asia-Pacific Super Quest, Alvin Pasaol, Santi Santillan, Karl Dehesa, and Travis Franklin.

Follow him on Twitter: @IvanSaldajeno