SWU-Phinma’s Dyll Roncal squeezes in between two Balanga defenders. /Contributed Photo
CEBU CITY, Philippines – The Southwestern University-Phinma Cobras bowed out of the Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas 3×3 Patriot’s Cup after they were bested by the Wilkins Balanga, 16-21 on Sunday, June 16, 2019, at the SM Seaside Cebu.
The Cobras however, showed incredible fight as they crawled all the way from a 7-15 deficit and pulled to within three, 16-19, after three straight points from big man Red Cachuela and Senegalese wingman Lamine Thiam.
However, Karl Dehesa put an end to the proceedings with a booming two-pointer to give Balanga the win. Balanga was sizzling from beyond the arc all game long as they buried six two-pointers.
Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas 3×3 made sure to bring the all-star feel here at the SM Seaside City, Sunday.
Meanwhile, league owner Ronald Mascariñas upped the ante for the 2019 Patriot’s Cup presented by Coca-Cola itself, making a surprise announcement.
“To the players, I have an announcement. The team that gathers the most points in all five legs will qualify for the qualifying draw of the 2019 Jeddah Masters while the runner up will automatically be seeded in the Xiong’An Challenger,” Mascariñas declared.
The Jeddah Masters takes place on October 18 to 19 and is the ultimate leg before the World Tour Finals in Utsonomiya, Japan.
On the other hand, the Xiong’An Challenger, a tournament that is set from August 23 to 24 in China, is a qualifier for the Los Angeles Masters.
Moreover, Mascariñas also raised the prize pool for the second conference of the country’s first-ever 3×3 league. The winner of the fifth leg’s grand finals will still take home a cool P 1 million. On the other hand, the runners-up bags P400,000 — up by P150,000 from the President’s Cup. Finally, the third-placed squad will bring P200,000 in the bag.
The 12 squads, namely hosts MAX4-Cebu Birada and SWU Cobras; Gold’s Gym-Pasig Kings; Wilkins Balanga Pure; MiGuard-Vigan Wolves; Zamboanga Valientes MLV; Thunder Pateros Hunters; Phenom-Basilan Steel; Mindoro Tamaraws; Inoza-Gulf Supreme Bulacan Boosters; Tycoon-Quezon City Ballers; and VetHealth-Delhi 3BL, were presented.
“Our goal is not just to entertain but to help out the SBP in raising much-needed 3×3 points for the country in our quest to make it to the 2020 Tokyo Olympics,” added Mascariñas as the Philippines went down to 34 after going up to as high as 31 during the end of the President’s Cup.
Also gracing the event were the Cebuano Hotshot and Cebu City Councilor-elect Dondon Hontiveros, Coca-Cola Corporate Affairs Head Juan Lorenzo Tanada, and league Commissioner Eric Altamirano.
“Maraming salamat sa Chooks-to-Go dahil tinutulungan niyo ang ating mga atleta, at mas lalo na kami dito sa Cebu, na makalaro sa sport na ito,” said Hontiveros.
“On behalf of Coca-Cola, it’s good to be back in sports,” Tanada said.
“Our company has been fully behind the 3×3 team of Mongolia. From a football country, Mongolia has also become a world power in 3×3 basketball. And we are planning to do the same for our country. Alam namin na aangat tayo sa 3×3 basketball dahil ito ang sport ng Pilipino.” /dcb