Manila Chooks TM faces tall odds

MANILA, Philippines — The Manila Chooks TM will  try to use its quickness to offset its lack in ceiling as it vies in the 2021 FIBA 3x3 World Tour Doha Masters slated Friday and Saturday at the Al Gharafa Sports Complex in Qatar.

With its top stalwarts headed by Joshua Munzon having turned pro, Manila Chooks is banking on new players Chico Lanete, Mac Tallo, Zachy Huang and Dennis Santos with Aldin Ayo as coach.

The Filipinos could well have their hands full as they face bigger, taller rivals in Austria’s Graz and host team Doha. They take on Graz at 7:30 p.m. Friday (Manila time) then the host team later in the night.

“Since we lack size since our big men have been affected by the quarantine measures here, we will be utilizing our speed and shooting,” said Lanete, who played for Uling Roasters-Butuan during the 2020 Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas 3x3 President’s Cup.

“We are competing with an underdog mindset,” he added.

The top team will advance to the tournament proper and join USA’s NY Harlem and Princeton in Pool D. NY and Princeton are No. 4 and 5, respectively, in the world club rankings. Pool games will also be played on March 26.

The FIBA 3X3 World Tour Doha Masters is a maximum-level (level 11) event. The champion wins $ 40,000.