QC-Wilcon becomes Lubao MCFASolver, Manila Chooks brings back Marcus Hammonds for FIBA 3x3 Cebu Masters

Former Cebu Chooks player Mike Harry Nzeusseu joins the newly-renamed Lubao MCFASolver squad for the FIBA 3x3 World Tour Cebu Masters. Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas 3x3 (file photo)

By Ivan Saldajeno

MANILA--Cebu Chooks will not be around to defend the homecourt in the FIBA 3x3 World Tour Cebu Masters next week.

Instead, Manila Chooks and Lubao MCFASolver will be the two teams that will represent the Three Stars and a Sun in the second stop of the FIBA 3x3 World Tour in the Philippines, a rare time that two Luzon-based squads play their home games in Visayas.

With Gilas Pilipinas, currently at number 30 in the men's federation rankings, needing to catch up in the FIBA world rankings in hopes of still securing a place in the FIBA 3x3 Olympic Qualifying Tournament, both Manila and Lubao stacked up their lineups ahead of the Cebu Masters.

Manila brought back Marcus Hammonds to replace Paul Desiderio while keeping Marquez Letcher-Ellis, Tosh Sesay, and Mac Tallo, the number one 3x3 player in the Philippines.

On the other hand, Lubao, known as Quezon City Wilcon Depot in the PBA 3x3, recruited Mike Harry Nzeusseu, a former member of Cebu Chooks, and Stanko Kujundzic, Croatia's number one 3x3 player, to replace the PBA Draft-bound Keith Datu and Yutien Andrada.

Jose Blazquez and TH Tumalip stay on for Lubao.

Headlining the 14-club field among the foreigners looking to spoil the home teams' party at SM Seaside City are world number one Ub Huishan NE, number three Amsterdam HiPro, number five Vienna, and number seven Miami, led by former NBA player Jimmer Fredette.

Completing the cast are Ulaanbaatar, Futian, Paris, Sansar, Wuxi, San Juan, Auckland, and Taichung.

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