Cebuano cagers Zach Huang (left) and Mac Tallo (right) doing some last minute training routine in their hotel to prepare for tomorrow’s game in the FIBA 3×3 Montreal World Tour in Canada. | Photo from Chooks-To-Go Pilipinas
CEBU CITY, Philippines — The country’s very own Manila Chooks TM 3×3 squad embraces the role of underdogs as they start their campaign in the FIBA 3×3 Montreal World Tour in Montreal, Canada tomorrow, Sunday, September 4 (September 5, Manila Time).
The team comprised of Cebuanos Mac Tallo and Zach Huang along with veteran cagers in Mark Yee and Chico Lañete and big man Dennis Santos will start their campaign versus World No. 8 Antwerp of Belgium at 12:45 AM (Manila Time).
Their second game will be against Edmonton of Canada at 6:50 AM in Pool D.
“One of the strengths of this team is the chemistry that we have.We were able to see them surrender to the system that we are implementing,” said the team’s head coach Aldin Ayo.
“Yung mentality also is there because they know that they are the underdogs. Yung kakulangan sa height, pupunuan nila ng determination yan to win,” Ayo said.
(The mentality is also there because they know that they are the underdogs. Their lack of height, they will make up for it with their determination to win.)
The team’s poor outing in the Doha Masters in March this year became an eye-opener for them. This time around, Ayo and his staff made sure that they have scouted the opposition well.
“Yung first game natin versus Antwerp, familiar tayo sa players nila so we were able to study their individual tendencies,” he said.
(Our first game against Antwerp, we are familiar with their players so we were able to study their individual tendencies.)
The Belgian team is composed of 6-foot-5 Nick Celes (World No. 23), Thibaut Vervoort (World No. 28), 6-foot-6 Thierry Marien (World No. 43), and 6-foot-6 Rafael Bogaerts (World No. 72).
“Yung Edmonton naman, it’s technically a new team. Si Steve Sir is the only player they retained while adding a Dutch import,” he said.
Edmonton revamped its lineup with Alex Johnson, Dutch import Ross Bekkering, and the debuting Adika Peter-McNeilly.
The top two teams in the pool will advance to the crossover playoffs on early Monday morning.
Despite the predicament that they are in, Manila Chooks TM will give nothing but their very best for flag and country.
“Sana makapagbigay kami ng kaligayahan sa kababayan natin at ma-entertain sila,” said Ayo.
(We hope that we can give happiness to our fellow Filipinos and entertain them.)
“Lahat ng ginagawa natin is pointed towards the 2024 Paris Olympics,” he said.
(All that we are doing is pointed towards the 2024 Paris Olympics.)
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