FIBA 3×3 Cebu Masters: Manila Chooks came up short, UB-Serbia grab easy win in opener

Mac Tallo of Manila Chooks blocks the shot of Vienna’s player during their FIBA 3×3 Cebu Masters game. | FIBA 3×3 photo

CEBU CITY, Philippines — The Manila Chooks faltered in the hands of Vienna-Austria in front of a packed crowd at the SM Seaside City Cebu on the first day of the Chooks-to-Go FIBA 3×3 World Tour Cebu Masters on Saturday, September 23, 2023. 

The Austrian squad stormed back from a six-point deficit,2-8, early in the game and went on denying the home team the win with a 20-14 final score.

Manila Chooks started off hot with Cebuano guard Mac Tallo and bigman Tosh Sesay’s scoring. They built a commanding six-point lead midway in the game. 

However, Vienna found their rhythm and started sinking their long-range shots which translated to a nine-point swing. They tied the game at 11-all with Nico Kaltenbrunner topping it with a two-pointer. 

Kaltenbrunner was red hot from the two-point area and nailed another shot which gave Vienna the lead, 13-11. 

After storming back from a huge deficit, the Austrian squad didn’t look back, pounding Manila Chooks with a 7-1 run, en route to grabbing the win in Pool C.

Manila Chooks scored three more points but that wasn’t enough to douse the blistering Austrian comeback.

Tallo and Sesay each scored five points, while Marcus Hammonds added four in their heartbreaking defeat. 

Matthias Linortner topscored Vienna with seven points, while Kaltenbrunner added six points. 

Enis Murati had five points and five rebounds, while Quincy Diggs only had two points but he grabbed 10 whopping rebounds. 

LOPSIDED WIN FOR THE SERBS

The formidable UB Huishan NE of Serbia clinched their first win against Wuxi of China in Pool A in dominating fashion, 21-16, in the opening match of the main draw.

Strahinja Stojacic of UB Huishan NE. | FIBA 3×3 photo

Strahinja Stojacic led the Serbians with his 9-point outing, while teammates Marko Brankovic and Dejan Majstorovic scored five and four points, respectively.

All three of them played for Serbia in their gold medal run in this year’s FIBA 3×3 World Cup held in Austria.

Their teammate Vladimir Dordevic chipped in three points. 

Yansong Wang paced the Chinese squad with seven points while Milivoje Mijovic added six points, and Haonan Li had three markers in their defeat.

DUTCH SQUAD TRASHES PUERTO RICANS 

Meanwhile, Amsterdam-Netherlands beat San Juan-Puerto Rico, 19-12, behind Worthy de Jong’s incredible 10-point game. 

Norbert Thelissen and Jan Driessen added five and three points, respectively for the Dutch squad. 

Antonio Ralat had five points for the Puerto Ricans.

USA BEATS LUBAO-PAMPANGA

Lubao MCFASolver-Pampanga hit a brick wall after facing Miami-United States, 15-22, in Pool D.

Earlier, Lubao won two straight games in the qualifying round to play the main draw inPool D.  However, their Cinderella run ended with a lopsided defeat in the hands of Miami led by veteran cager Jimmer Fredette who scored eight points. 

Canyon Barry and Kareem Maddox each chipped in five points, while Dylan Travis added four markers.

Mike Harry Nzeusseu scored six points in Lubao’s loss. 

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