Talisay prevails over GenSan in shootout at start of Chooks Quest

Paul Desiderio announced his return to pro basketball in style. Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas 3x3
By Ivan Saldajeno

STA. ROSA, Laguna--Talisay EGS ended up victorious in a showdown from long range against GenSan and finished them off in style through a 22-17 win early into the Chooks-to-Go 3x3 Quest 2.0 on Sunday at the Ayala Malls Solenad Activity Center.

Both Talisay and GenSan combined for 15 long bombs. Still, the difference was Talisay's inside presence in which Paul Desiderio, Jerome Napao, and Dyll Roncal took turns in scoring shots from one-point range despite Steve Akomo struggling.

However, Desiderio finished the game with how the trend went, a two-pointer at the 9:17.2 mark of the game.

Desiderio, playing for the first time in the professional 3x3 ranks and since retiring quickly from the PBA, led Talisay with 14 points. At the same time, Napao and Roncal each had three and Akomo scored one.

Harold Talan put up eight points, RJ Deles added 6, and Irvin Mendoza made three for GenSan.

Meanwhile, Cebu City and Manila quickly imposed their will with 21-point finishes to open their own campaign in the one-day event with a spot in the FIBA 3x3 World Tour Hong Kong Masters on the line.

Cebu City Chooks clobbered Makati MNL Kingpin, 21-11, with world 3x3 veteran Marcus Hammonds announcing his return with an 11-point output.

Meanwhile, Leon Lorenzana introduced himself to the domestic 3x3 circuit by leading Manila Chooks to a 21-13 win against Quezon City.

Lorenzana finished with 10 points behind five deuces.

In another clash, Butuan Chooks made quick work of Botolan Hayati with a 21-9 win behind JP Cauilan's 14-point performance.

The scores:

Pool A Game 1

Cebu (21) - Hammonds 11, Nzeusseu 5, Tallo 3, Ramirez 2.

Makati (11) - Sario 4, Morales 3, Diokno 3, Pableo 1.

Time: 9:37.3 (Hammonds 2)

Pool B Game 1

Manila 21 - Lorenzana 10, Ando 4, Iloka 4, Santos 3.

Quezon City 13 - Delfinado 6, Laminou 4, Rosales 3, Fuentes 0.

Time: 9:14 (Ando)

Pool A Game 2

Butuan 21 - Cauilan 14, Strait 5, Arafat 2, Octobre 0.

Botolan 9 - Gozum 4, Anderson 2, Ndong 2, Kapunan 1.

Time: 8:54 (Cauilan 2)

Pool B Game 2

Talisay 22 -Desiderio 14, Napao 3, Roncal 3, Akomo 1.

GenSan 17 - Talan 8, Deles 6, Mendoza 3, Catipay 0.

Time: 9:17.2 (Desiderio - 2)

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