Manila Chooks vies in Amsterdam

MANILA, Philippines — It’s the first tournament of the year for the Manila Chooks 3x3 squad but head trainer Chico Lanete wants his charges to treat it as if it’s their last.

Whether Manila Chooks heeds Lanete’s challenge will be known when it plunges into action today in the FIBA 3X3 Pro League Netherlands 2023 Winter Edition Stop 1 at the Amsterdam Velodrome.

Featuring Mac Tallo, Brandon Ramirez and Dennis Santos, Manila Chooks takes on Amstelveen of Netherlands at 2:55 a.m. before they face world No. 15 Utrecht at 4:35 a.m.

The Filipino 3x3 cagers will also field new additions CJ Payawal and Matt Salem, but expect to have their hands full against Utrecht that will be led by seven-foot big man Hieronymus van der List, the Dutch’s world No. 56 player.

While Payawal and Salem are still learning to jive with their teammates and adjust to 3x3 play, Lanete is convinced they have what it takes to compete.

“Very excited sila especially our new players – CJ (Payawal) and Matt (Salem) although sila din iyong talagang adjusting pa not just sa system but sa 3x3 game din talaga,” Lanete said.

“Pero what I really like about them is iyong attitude nila. Iyong dedication and willingness nilang matuto, nandoon.”

Manila Chooks toughened up for the tourney under Serbian consultant Milan Isakov from Jan. 15 to Feb. 7.

Other ranked teams in the FIBA level 8 tilt include world No. 5 Amsterdam of the Netherlands, world No. 20 Warsaw of Poland, and world No. 21 Düsseldorf of Germany.

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.

Games can be followed on Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas Facebook page.