Antwerp shocks Pasig in Moscow Challenger

Taylor Statham paced Pasig, which fell to a win-or-go-home situation against Riga. Chooks-To-Go Pilipinas

By Ivan Saldajeno

MANILA—Antwerp saved its bid in the FIBA 3x3 Moscow Challenger after downing Pasig, 21-14, at the Gorky Park in Moscow on Friday night.

Fresh from a bad beat to Riga earlier in the day, the Belgian side went on a tear early into the clash as Nick Celis and Anthony Chada helped spark their club's breakaway threat, opening a 17-8 lead with only five minutes.

Pasig tried to come back as its two-point shooting began to lit up, trimming the lead down to four, 18-14, with 3:59 to play.

But Antwerp scored the game's final three points to seal the win.

Chada led Antwerp, which will now await the result of the Pasig-Riga game early Saturday (Philippine Time) to determine its playoff fate, with nine points.

Thierry Marien added five points, while Celis had four and Amaury Marion got three.

Taylor Statham had seven markers to lead Pasig, which now needs to beat Riga in hopes of making the knockout rounds.

Joshua Munzon added five points, while Nikola Pavlovic and Dylan Ababou each had one.

The Scores:

Antwerp 21 - Chada 9, Marien 5, Celis 4, Marion 3.

Pasig 14 - Statham 7, Munzon 5, Pavlovic 1, Ababou 1.

Follow him on Twitter: @IvanSaldajeno