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| Manila Chooks misses out on stunning Riga. Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas 3x3 (file photo) |
NEOM, Saudi Arabia—Manila Chooks! put up a valiant stand against reigning Summer Olympics champion and world no. 3 Riga of Latvia, falling by just a solitary point 18-19 to open the festivities in the 2022 FIBA 3x3 NEOM Super Quest in Saudi Arabia.
The huge quartet of Henry Iloka, Dennis Santos, Ken Holmqvist, and Dave Ando looked dead in the water, falling behind 6-16 with 2:333 left.
Santos though heated up from deep, knocking down four deuces in a blistering 13-3 end-game spurt.
During the rally, Iloka converted on a layup and a stop led to a Santos deuce to cut the lead down to one, 19-18.
However, the clock was the only thing that could cool down Manila as time expired on them.
World no. 4 Nauris Miezis led Riga with eight points and four rebounds while Karlis Lasmanis added seven markers.
PH no. 5 Santos finished the game with nine points built on four deuces while Iloka added seven markers. Holmqvist also got two points and five rebounds.
Do-or-die will be Manila's next game in the tournament which serves as a qualifier for the Hong Kong Masters as they face Poland's Warsaw at 10:45 p.m.
Warsaw takes on Riga at 12:55 a.m. to close out Pool A. Only the top two teams in each group will advance to the next round.
The Scores:
Riga 19 - Miezis 8, Lasmanis 7, Krumins 3, Čavars 1.
Manila 18 - Santos 9, Iloka 7, Holmqvist 2, Ando 1
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