WHILE an undermanned Manila Chooks! squad fell short against world No. 23 Warsaw Lotto 3×3 of Poland, 7-22, on Saturday, in the quarterfinals of the FIBA 3X3 Pro League Netherlands 2023 Winter Edition Stop 1, the team is not one to cry over spilled milk.
There are no excuses and Manila Chooks! can take solace in the fact that it raised its points in a bid to qualify for the Paris Olympics next year.
At press time, the Philippines has 1,024,039 FIBA points that will increase 24 to 48 hours after the games ended.
Manila Chooks! will also gain more points in the FIBA level 8 tourney since it is made up of an all-Filipino quartet.
It was a commendable seventh-place finish for the wards of head trainer Chico Lanete in the tough 12-team field, according to Chooks-to-Go President Ronald Mascariñas.
“That was a gallant stand from our team (against Warsaw Lotto 3×3),” Mascariñas said. “Defeating a team like Amstelveen of the Netherlands on their home turf was not an easy feat.”
“But they pulled it off to make it as far as the quarterfinals in their first tournament for 2023,” added the effervescent godfather of Philippine 3×3.
Moving forward, Manila Chooks! sees action Sunday, March 12, in Stop 2 of the tourney at the Amsterdam Velodrome.
The Filipino 3×3 cagers square off with world No. 24 Düsseldorf of Germany at 9:05 p.m. and Turkmenistan’s Ashgabat at 10:45 p.m.
The country’s No. 1 3×3 player Mac Tallo will banner Manila Chooks! in Stop 2 along with No. 3 Dennis Santos, CJ Payawal, and Matt Salem, who will play in lieu of injured big man Brandon Ramirez (knee).
“Considering that our new reinforcements joined the team just recently and with Brandon getting injured, this was still a very good showing for the team,” Mascariñas said.
“I can’t wait to see how they will play proudly for the country once again in the second stop of the tournament.”
World No. 7 Amsterdam of the Netherlands finished on top after Stop 1, followed by world No. 24 Düsseldorf, world. No. 23 Warsaw, and world. No. 11 Utrecht.
The meet will be made up of three stops and a final, with the winner after three stops taking home $15,000 and a ticket to Manila Masters, while the second and third placers will bag $10,000 and $5,000.
In the final event, the top team will earn $15,000 and a slot to the Macau Masters. The second and third placers will get $7,000 and $5,000, respectively.
Fans can watch the games live on Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas’ Facebook page.