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| Zamboanga City bounced back from a shock exit in Leg 3 to take Leg 4. Chooks-to-Go |
MANILA--Zamboanga City is champion again!
The Family's Brand Sardines-backed squad prevailed in a nail-biter over Butuan, 21-20, in the Leg 4 final of the Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas 3x3 President's Cup at the Inspire Sports Academy in Calamba on Tuesday night.
Zamboanga City, dethroned in the quarterfinals of Sunday's Leg 3, engaged in a tight battle against Butuan, the eventual ruler of the said leg, in the championship game for the penultimate leg of the conference that boiled down the wire.
Up 20-16 with 3:19 left, Zamboanga City got a huge scare when Butuan's Chris Dechavez scored back-to-back deuces to force a 20-all deadlock with 2:47 to play.
Dechavez, however, failed to check Santi Santillan, who was all alone for the offensive rebound off a Joshua Munzon missed two, forcing Dechavez to foul Santillan while the latter goes for the putback with 2:34 remaining.
The foul eventually decided the contest as Santillan drained the free throw for the match point.
Munzon finished with 11 points to lead Zamboanga City, who won a total of PHP110,000 for not ruling the leg but also winning the fastest game award after needing just a shade over five minutes to depose Pagadian, 21-7, in pool play.
Santillan added six points, while Alvin Pasaol got three and Troy Rike made one.
Dechavez totalled 12 markers, while Karl Dehesa and JR Alabanza each got four for Butuan City, which despite the runner-up finish got PHP100,000 as well for being Zamboanga City's challenger in the final.
THE SCORES
ZAMBOANGA CITY 21 -- Munzon 11, Santillan 6, Pasaol 3, Rike 1.
BUTUAN CITY 20 -- De Chavez 12, Dehesa 4, Alabanza 4, Lanete 0.
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