Mac Tallo of Manila Chooks celebrates after beating Futian-China in the Chooks-to-Go FIBA 3×3 World Tour Cebu Masters on Saturday evening, September 23, 2023. | FIBA 3×3 Photo
CEBU CITY, Philippines — Cebuano 3×3 star Mac “Spida Mac” Tallo did not disappoint the hordes of wary Cebuano basketball fans in the Chooks-to-Go FIBA 3×3 World Tour Cebu Masters after delivering Manila Chooks’ first win late Saturday evening at the SM Seaside City Cebu.
Manila Chooks opened their campaign in the main draw’s Pool C with a stunning defeat in the hands of Vienna-Austria, 14-20.
However, Tallo didn’t want to end his day and Manila Chooks’ campaign with another disappointment after bouncing back, defeating China’s Futian, 21-17, to advance in today’s quarterfinals at 4:00 PM against top contender UB Huishan NE of Serbia.
READ: Tallo spearheads Manila Chooks in Chooks-to-Go FIBA 3×3 World Tour Cebu Masters
Tallo did not let win slip away
In last year’s Cebu Masters, Tallo and Cebu Chooks bowed out early of contention after losing both matches against United States’ Omaha 3Ball and Antwerp-Belgium in the pool stage.
On Saturday evening, Tallo did not let the win slip away from his hands after top scoring Manila Chooks with nine points.
“Siyempre ginawa namin ang lahat. Ang mentality namin mula kaninang umaga mag-cramps na tayo, kahit ma-injure, tayo ibuhos na natin lahat kasi we never, I think it’s been a year na hindi kami nakapasok ng Day 2 ng mga tournaments,” said the former Cesafi MVP, Tallo.
(Of course, we did all that we could. Our mentality since this morning is even if we have cramps, even if we injure ourselves, let’s give our all because we have never, I think it’s been a year where we did not enter Day 2 of the tournaments.)
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How they won
Dimeo Van Der Horst paced Futian with 10 markers while Dianlang Zhang had three points. Jianghe Chen and Hanyu Guo each scored two points.
Manila Chooks led as many as five points, 11-6, mid-game mainly from Tallo’s incredible offense.
However, Futian gave Manila Chooks a scare after cutting the lead to just two, 17-19, after Der Horst nailed a two-point shot.
Still, Tallo’s heroics sealed Manila Chooks’ the huge win after sinking the game-winning basket at long range with 1:38 remaining.