Dennis Santos of Manila Chooks. | Photo from the FIBA3x3 website
CEBU CITY, Philippines — The Manila Chooks bowed out of the FIBA 3×3 World Tour Al Bidda Park Challenger 2023 in Doha, Qatar after losing to Utrecht of Netherlands, 15-22, in Pool B, on Wednesday, October 18, 2023.
Their defeat came on the heels o their huge upset win against world no. 3 Antwerp of Belgium, 14-12, in overtime, earlier today.
READ: Manila Chooks upset Antwerp team in Fiba 3×3 hoops tourney in Qatar
Dutch started hot
This time, Manila Chooks was on the losing end against the Dutch. Utrecht started the game with a searing 5-0 start with Maksim Kovacevic and Bryan Alberts scoring back-to-back deuces, while Olaf Schaftenaar scored one point.
Marcus Hammonds ended Manila Chooks’ scoring drought with a basket at 8:15 mark of the game, 1-5.
Manila Chooks were able to cut the lead to one, 6-7, from the efforts of Dennis Santos who scored back-to-back two-pointers, plus a shot from Tosh Sesay.
READ: Manila Chooks exit FIBA 3×3 Cebu Masters after losing to UB Huishan-Serbia in the quarterfinals
Utrecht stretches lead
However, Utrecht responded with a 4-0 run to regain their huge lead, 11-6.
Despite their many attempts of a comeback, the Dutch always had a better answer to every baskets Manila Chooks made.
Utrecht established their biggest lead, seven, 20-13, with 2:34, remaining. Santos and Hammonds managed to sink their own two-pointers to cut the lead to just five, 15-20, but Nesta Agasi nailed the game winning deuce, 22-15, with 1:59 left.
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Who scored from both teams
Santos finished with six points, all of it came from the two-point area, while Hammonds also had six markers. Sesay added three points.
Alberts paced Utrecht with seven points, while Kovacevic had six points. Schaftenaar scored five points, and Agasi with four as their team advanced to the quarterfinals.
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