Manila Chooks upset Antwerp team in Fiba 3×3 hoops tourney in Qatar

Paul Desiderio celebrates after Manila Chooks beat Antwerp TOPdesk in the FIBA 3×3 World Tour Al Bidda Park Challenger 2023 in Doha, Qatar. | Photo from Chooks-to-Go

CEBU CITY, Philippines — The Manila Chooks staged a huge upset in the ongoing FIBA 3×3 World Tour Al Bidda Park Challenger 2023 in Doha, Qatar after defeating world No. 3 Antwerp TOPdesk, 14-12, in overtime under Pool B on October 17, 2023. 

Former University of Cebu (UC) Webmaster center Tosh Sesay put on an incredible performance after scoring seven points with 12 rebounds for Manila Chooks.

READ: Manila Chooks exit FIBA 3×3 Cebu Masters after losing to UB Huishan-Serbia in the quarterfinals 

Start with long range shots

Dennis Santos added four points, while Marcus Hammonds had two, while Cebuano Paul Desiderio chipped in one point in their stunning victory against the heavily-favored Belgians. 

Manila Chooks started the game with a blistering 4-0 from Dennis Santos’ long-range and Tosh Sesay’s back-to-back baskets in the painted area. 

However, Antwerp responded with a two-pointer from Dennis Donkor who finished the game with six points and two boards.

READ: Tallo’s heroics send Manila Chooks to FIBA 3×3 Cebu Masters Q’finals 

Manila Chooks stretch lead

Still, Manila Chooks were able to stretch their lead to 8-4, with 3:03 left in the game behind Sesay and Santos’s efforts. 

They were able to maintain their lead amidst trading baskets with Antwerp, 11-7, until the latter retaliated with a 4-0 run from the efforts of Donkor, Mohamed Kherrazi, and Vic Van Oosterwyck, to tie the game at 11-all. 

Not to be outfought, Sesay who is also based in Cebu scored a putback from Hammond’s missed two to regain their lead 12-11, with three seconds left. 

READ: Miami-USA lords Chooks-to-Go FIBA 3×3 World Tour Cebu Masters

Overtime

Antwerp’s Jonas Foerts managed to throw a two-pointer from the right corner, but it didn’t go in.

The venue packed with Filipino fans, mostly Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW) in Qatar erupted in celebration, but  this was abruptly halted after the game officials reviewed the last play and saw Hammonds getting a contact with Foerts while the latter was attempting the shot. 

This sent Foerts to the charity stripe and calmly sank the game-tying free throw forcing it into over time at 12-all. 

In the overtime, the venue erupted again in celebration after Desiderio sank a two-pointer to win the game.

READ: Maroons in acid test against Archers; Eagles seek bounce-back

Manila Chooks seal win

However, another controversial call from the official ruled it as one point, 13-12, despite the replay showing Desiderio didn’t step on the line when attempting the shot. 

Fortunately, Manila Chooks were able to seal the win from Desiderio’s timely pass to Sesay who easily made a layup to finish the game at 14-12. 

Manila Chooks faces Utrecht of the Netherlands in their second match in Pool B as of this writing.