Chooks teams miss Cebu Masters playoffs

CEBU CITY –  Cebu Chooks and Manila Chooks vowed a stronger performance in the next tournament – either abroad or back here at the Queen City of the South – after their abrupt exit in the Chooks-to-Go FIBA 3x3 World Tour Masters at the SM City Seaside here.

Manila Chooks got an early boot in the qualifying draw while Cebu Chooks stood its ground against 3x3 powerhouses in the main tilt before crashing out in the group stage in front of a boisterous Cebuano crowd.

Mac Tallo, the country’s No. 1 3x3 player and bona fide Cebuano, wished they could’ve shown better but nevertheless expressed gratitude to one of the best crowds the 3x3 basketball had ever experienced around the world.

A testament to that was Cebuano’s unwavering support even in Day 2 sans the Philippine teams already as the Cebu Masters progressed with an all-foreign quarterfinals led by Olympic gold medalist Riga of Latvia and world No. 3 Antwerp of Belgium.

“Nagpapasalamat kami sa Cebu at sa lahat ng Cebuanos. Iba talaga ‘yung fans ng Cebu. Lahat dito, sobrang mahal ang basketball kahit sino pa yan kaya na-appreciate ko nang sobra mga kababayan kong Cebuano,” said Cebu Chooks ace Tallo.

“Pangako ko sa kanila, next time that we’ll be here, nasa finals na kami. Gagawa kami ng paraan para manalo,” added Tallo.

A big consolation for Tallo was a runner-up finish with 12 points in the Two-Point shootout behind champion Thibaut Vervoort (14) of Antwerp. Manila Chooks’ Chico Lanete also reached the finals of the shooting side show.

Cebu Chooks, the Philippines No. 1 team and world No. 26, gave Antwerp a run for its own money in Pool A but fell short at 16-11. It then succumbed to USA’s Omaha, 21-14, to miss the playoffs.

As early as the qualifying draw, Manila Chooks bested India, 21-17, but bowed to Doha in the final phase, 21-16, to miss out on a main draw berth.

“Marami pa kaming kailangan i-improve. Binigay namin lahat pero ‘yun nga, kulang pa talaga. We promise to get better every league. ‘Yun lang naman kulang talaga, to play more leagues,” promised Tallo.