SEVEN out of 56 prospects stood out in the first Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas 3×3 national tryouts for guards at the Activate Hoop Arena in Mandaluyong City Tuesday.
Paul Desiderio leads the batch of possible new additions to the program’s talent pool which is being expanded for the 2023 season—a crucial year for the country’s hopes of qualifying to the Paris 2024 Olympics.
Celebrity athlete Gerald Anderson and seasoned pros Jaypee Belencion, Shaq Alanes and RJ Deles also made the grade. Also making the cut are young players Ian Pardo, 23, and Zaljun Cartagena, 25.
“With the 2023 FIBA 3×3 season being crucial in our drive to compete in the Paris 2024 Olympics and Olympic Qualifying Tournament, we want to find the best players possible,” Chooks-to-Go president Ronald Mascariñas said. “And this tryouts for guards is an excellent jumpstart to it,” said
The aspirants were tested right away in a 3×3 match with national players Mac Tallo, Brandon Ramirez, Dennis Santos and Vince Tolentino to cap off the open trials.
Chooks 3×3 head trainer Chico Lanete, however, said that nothing is set in stone yet as the seven candidates will still have to undergo a thorough screening by the program’s top brass together with new consultant MIlan Isakov.
Isakov was a former coach of long-time 3×3 powerhouse Liman and also played for Serbia.