Manila reigns, Cebu, Butuan fall to open Chooks 3x3 Quest

Manila Chooks quickly showed might. Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas 3x3
By Ivan Saldajeno

STA. ROSA, Laguna--Manila Chooks made a head start in its bid to qualify for the FIBA 3x3 World Tour Cebu Masters after tripping Kuala Lumpur Aseel, 21-15, in the early stages of the Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas 3x3 Quest on Friday at the Ayala Malls Solenad Activity Center.

Manila showed its dominance against its Malaysian opponent with Henry Iloka scoring 10 of the Filipino squad's first 15 points.

The 6-foot-10 beanpole even showed a much-improved game as he hit a two-pointer and a layup off a drive to the basket.

However, it was Chico Lanete who finished off Kuala Lumpur with three straight deuces to ice the game, including the match point at the 8:26 mark of the game.

Lanete finished with seven points, while Dave Ando made two in his professional 3x3 debut, the same as Dennis Santos.

Ting Chun Hung made six points, Zhen Jie Tem had four, Gan Teck Hwa put up three, and Anthony Liew made two for Kuala Lumpur.

Meanwhile, Saitama delivered an early upset into the one-day tournament after stunning world number 27 Cebu City Chooks, 13-11.

Turning to its defense, Saitama, led by Tokyo Olympian Tomoya Ochiai, showed that it is ready to silence the Cebuano crowd come the Cebu Masters should it make the cut by dealing Cebu City a huge defeat.

Teodor Atanasov and Marko Milakovic, Saitama's two Serbian recruits, paced the squad with seven and four points, respectively.

Ochiai and Ryo Ozawa each scored one.

Mac Tallo, the Philippines' number one 3x3 player, led Cebu City with six points, while Mike Harry Nzeusseu put up four and Brandon Ramirez had one.

The other Filipino squad, Butuan Chooks, was dealt a 7-22 defeat by Zaisan.

Ulzii-Orshikh Myagmursen outscored the entire Butuan squad by his lonesome with 10 points to lead Zaisan.

Nyamdorj Ganbaatar matched Butuan's score by himself with seven even as Chuluunbaatar Ikhbaayar had four and Batsaikhan Altangerel had one.

Jason Strait made three points, while Prince Eze and JP Cauilan each added two for Butuan.

In the first game of the event, Ulaanbaatar quickly showed why it's the number one 3x3 team in Asia with a 22-12 win against fellow Mongolian squad Zavkhan.

The Scores:

First Game (Pool A)

Ulaanbaatar 22 - Davaasambuu 10, Tsogt 7, Gotov 4, Enkhbat 1.

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

Time: Delgernyam Davaasambuu - 2 (8:35)

Second Game (Pool B)

Saitama 13 - Atanasov 7, Milakovic 4, Ozawa 1, Ochiai 1.

Cebu 11 - Tallo 6, Nzeusseu 4, Ramirez 1, Tolentino 0.

Third Game (Pool A)

Manila 21 - Iloka 10, Lanete 7, Ando 2, Santos 2.

Kuala Lumpur 15 - Ting 6, Zhen 4, Gan 3, Liew 2.

Time: Chico Lanete - 2 (8:26)

Fourth Game (Pool B)

Zaisan 22 - Myagmarsuren 10, Nyamdorj 7, Chuluunbaatar 4, Batsaikhan 1.

Butuan 7 - Strait 3, Eze 2, Cauilan 2, Catacutan 0.

Time: Ulzii-Orshikh Myagmarsuren - 2 (6:25)

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