Manila Chooks stuns Ulaanbaatar to go 2-0 in Chooks 3x3 Quest

Henry Iloka soars for the dunk. Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas 3x3

By Ivan Saldajeno

STA. ROSA, Laguna--Manila Chooks pulled off a giant slaying to clinch a spot in the semifinals of the Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas 3x3 Quest, stunning Ulaanbaatar, 21-20, in their second game in the pool stages Friday at the Ayala Malls Solenad Activity Center.

Chico Lanete played hero anew for Manila, this time sinking the game-winning free throw with only 13.4 seconds left in the game as the Filipino squad, currently outside the Top 30 in the world club rankings, scored a major upset against the top 3x3 team in Asia and seventh in the world.

Lanete finished with four points, the same as newcomer Dave Ando, even as Henry Iloka led Manila anew with eight points and Dennis Santos had five.

Dulguun Enkhbat had nine points, Tsenguunbayar Gotov made seven, and Otgonjargal Tsogt and Delgernyam Davaasambuu each scored two for Ulaanbaatar, which will next face Kuala Lumpur to determine which team will join Manila in the semifinals for Pool A.

Kuala Lumpur kept its bid alive with a 13-12 shocker against Zavkhan.

Zhen Jie Tem made four points, while Anthony Liew, Gan Teck Hwa, and Ting Chun Hong each added three for Kuala Lumpur.

Enkhsaikhan Bayarsaikhan made six markers, Avirmed Lhagvaa put up three, Batzaya Tsermaa scored two, and Munkhtur Khureltogoo had one for Zavkhan, which was formally knocked out of playoff contention.

Saitama booked its own place in the semifinals with a 20-11 win against Zaisan that moved the Japanese squad up to 2-0 in Pool B action.

On the other hand, Cebu City Chooks evaded another upset bid with a 21-19 win against Butuan Chooks to keep its own playoff hopes alive.

Cebu City pulled away in the end to break a 19-all tie to knock Butuan out of playoff contention.

Coupled with the earlier results, Cebu City and Zaisan will dispute the last semifinal seat later Friday.

Fifth Game (Pool A)

Kuala Lumpur 13 - Zhen 4, Liew 3, Gan 3, Ting 3.

Zavkhan 12 - Bayarsaikhan 6, Lhagvaa 3, Tsermaa 2, Khureltogoo 1.

Sixth Game:

Saitama 20 - Milakovic 8, Atanasov 6, Ochiai 3, Ozawa 3.

Zaisan 11 - Myagmarsuren 6, Nyamdorj 4, Chuluunbaatar 1, Batsaikhan 0.

Seventh Game (Pool A)

Manila 21 - Iloka 8, Santos 5, Lanete 4, Ando 4.

Ulaanbaatar 20 - Enkhbat 9, Gotov 7, Davaasambuu 2, Tsogt 2.

Time: Chico Lanete - free throw (9:46.6)

Eighth Game (Pool B)

Cebu 21 - Ramirez 8, Nzeusseu 6, Tallo 6, Tolentino 1.

Butuan 19 - Strait 9, Cauilan 4, Catacutan 3, Eze 3.

Time: Mike Nzeusseu - dunk (9:02.3)

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