 |
| Mac Tallo celebrates his game-winner, while Dimeo Van Der Horst is in disbelief after Manila Chooks knocked out Futian from the FIBA 3x3 World Tour Cebu Masters. FIBA |
CEBU CITY--Manila Chooks moved on to the FIBA 3x3 World Tour Cebu Masters quarterfinals after stunning Futian, 21-17, in the last set of matches in the pool stages on Saturday night at the SM Seaside City Activity Center.
In a grind-out game that even saw both teams reach the double bonus penalty, hometown hero Mac Tallo's deuce sealed the deal for Manila as the team staved off one final push from Futian.
Playing a physical brand of play even during its game against Vienna earlier Saturday, Manila made life tough for Futian as the Filipino side took an 18-13 lead with 2:15 left.
Futian rallied back with a 4-1 run within the next 27 seconds, but Tallo's pick-and-pop two with 1:38 left shut down Futian for good.
Tallo's game point turned out to be his only made shot from 22 feet out the entire game as he scored much of his nine points on layups and free throws.
Marcus Hammonds added five points, Tosh Sesay made four, and Q Letcher-Ellis put up three for Manila, which will take on Ub in Sunday's quarterfinals.
However, Lubao's stint in the Cebu Masters ended on a sour note after falling prey to Ulaanbaatar MMC Energy, 21-17.
Ulaanbaatar's systematic style of play prevailed over the athleticism and physicality of Lubao as the Mongolian side stood tall despite the PBA 3x3 side's gallant fight in the end behind two-pointers from Jose Blazquez.
Canadian import Steve Sir led Ulaanbaatar with nine points, Dulguun Enkhbat, and Delgernyam Davaasambuu each added five, and Otgonjargal Tsogt made two for Ulaanbaatar, which battles Amsterdam HiPro in another quarterfinal.
The other quarterfinal pairings see Paris battling San Juan and Vienna taking on Wuxi.
Follow him on X: @IvanSaldajeno
.jpg)
