By Peter Atencio
The world’s no. 1 team, Ub Huishan NE prevailed in an all-Serbia finals, putting away Liman Huishan, 20-17, in an all Serbian finals to grab the coveted title of the 2022 Chooks-to-Go FIBA 3×3 World Tour Manila Masters, Sunday at Ayala Malls Manila Bay.
The 6’7” Marko Brankovic, ranked seventh in the individual world rankings, showed why Ub is the team to beat, as he shot nine points in helping Huishan NE claim their second crown this crown this month.
“This team is amazing. They played their best basketball tonight,” said Ub coach Marko Zdero, two weeks after they took home that Utsonimiya Masters crown.
Four outside shots worth two points each allowed Ub to move out of range, 15-8, in the 2:52 mark.
Dejan Majstorovic, the world’s no. 2 player, hit eight points for Ub, which earned the champion squad the $40,000 (P2.093-million) top purse.
Earlier, Stajina Stojacic punctured the hoops with seven points and boards to power the Huishan cagers to a 21-10 blasting Melbourne and book the first finals berth.
Liman of Serbia, which has three members of the Tokyo Olympics bronze medallist Serbian squad in the roster in 6’8” world no. 12 Stefan Kojic, who had 13 points, outpaced Sansar MMC Energy of Mongolia, 21-11, to set up a title playoff with the Ub.
Meanwhile, Manila and Cebu bowed out of contention in the quarterfinals after Sansar Energy and Liman-Huishan gave them a hard time.
Liman, which disrupted Cebu with the physicality of its game, and took matchpoint with Mihailo Vasic’s free throw in the last 2:53 for a 21-11 victory.
Manila, getting seven points from Henry Iloka, squandered an 12-8 advantage after fatigue took its toll in the remaining five minutes, allowing Sansa to rally to a 21-16 upending.
“We did not play our game. We were disrupted by their physicality,” said Cebu coach Aldin Ayo.