Tallo out to dazzle hometown fans anew

CEBU, Philippines —  Mac Tallo will once again dazzle his hometown fans as the Cebuano basketball star headlines the Manila Chooks! in the highly anticipated 2023 Chooks-to-Go FIBA 3x3 World Tour Cebu Masters slated on September 23-24 at the picturesque SM Seaside City.

 Tallo, the country’s No. 1 3x3 player, is raring to show his wares anew as he completes the Chico Lanete-mentored hometown quartet seeded 11th in the two-day tilt.

Tallo is the lone Filipino in the team with his fellow local standouts Paul Desiderio and Dennis Santos out due to injuries.

He will be seeing action alongside Marcus Hammonds, Marquez Letcher-Ellis, and Cebu-based Tosh Sesay.

Tallo is convinced the new-look Manila Chooks! will be no pushover despite the adversities they went through.

“Kailangan talaga namin mag-adjust sa team after the sudden injuries nila Paul and Dennis. Pinilit talaga nila maglaro pero hindi talaga gumaling in time ang tuhod ni Paul and medical condition ni Dennis,” said Tallo, the first and only player to win the MVP award both in high school and college in the history of the Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc. (CESAFI).

“Thankful din ako na nag-step up si Quez, Tosh and Marcus kasi matagal ko na sila nakakalaro and aligned kami sa gustong ma-achieve ng team dito sa Cebu Masters. We will play hard,” added Tallo.

Meanwhile, expect world-class talent both from foreign players and local aces to wow the Queen City of the South.

The tough 14-team field includes top seed Ub Huishan of Serbia, The Netherlands’ Amsterdam HiPRO, and Vienna of Austria.

The United States’ Miami side will be anchored by former NBA player Jimmer Fredette.

Other fancied Asian teams in the Cebu Masters include Mongolia’s Ulaanbaatar MMC Energy and Sansar MMC Energy and Futian of China.

The champion will take home $40,000, with the runner-up settling for $30,000.

Fans can watch the games live on Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas’ Facebook page and the YouTube channel of FIBA 3x3.