Balanga wins Chooks Magiting Cup championship

Wilkins Balanga went home PHP1 million richer. Ivan Saldajeno

By Ivan Saldajeno

MANDALUYONG--Wilkins Balanga claimed the Chooks-To-Go 3x3 Magiting Cup championship after beating rival Equalivet Pasig, 21-19, in the final of the conference playoffs at the SM Megamall Events Center on Friday.

Balanga went for the quick kill in a 16-second span following a tight battle with Pasig for the PHP1 million pot.

With the game tied at 18-all, Karl Dehesa drilled in a booming two-pointer to give Balanga a 20-18 lead and bring the team to within match point.

JR Alabanza tried to keep Pasig in the game with a quick basket to draw the team to within one, 19-20, but Alvin Pasaol found himself open for the layup to seal the win with 1:43 to spare.

Pasaol finished with 12 points en route to best player and tournament MVP honors for Balanga, which aside from the million peso cash also punched a ticket to the FIBA 3x3 Jeju Challenger, a qualifying tournament for the FIBA 3x3 World Tour Jeddah Masters, which Balanga also qualified for by ruling the previous Chooks-To-Go Pilipinas 3x3 conference, the Patriot's Cup.

Dylan Ababou made 10 markers for Pasig, which settled for the PHP500,000 runner-up prize.

Fyr Fyter Bacolod, which pushed Pasig to the limit in the semifinals earlier Friday before losing, 19-21, claimed third place and a PHP250,000 cash pot.

Box Scores:

Wilkins Balanga 21 - Pasaol 12, Dehesa 5, Santillan 4, De Chavez 0.

Equalivet Pasig 19 - Ababou 10, Alabanza 6, Munzon 2, De Vera 1.

Follow him on Twitter: @IvanSaldajeno