MANILA Head Coach Aldin Ayo is glad that his team could gain more organized games under their belt through the Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas 3×3 Invitational powered by TM set on Wednesday at the Laus Group Events Centre in San Fernando, Pampanga.
And it’s timely as Manila Chooks (HeiHei in the domestic league) will be competing in the 2021 FIBA 3×3 World Tour Abu Dhabi Masters from October 29 to 30.
“I’m happy because we are going to have games which we lacked,” said Ayo, who is in his first year in handling the Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas 3×3 program. “In our first game, we were beaten and we struggled, but in the second game we were able to adjust. Hopefully, after this, we learn more about adjusting in tournaments.”
Despite having two Masters tournaments experience in Doha last March and Montreal last September, the team only competed in four games as there are no domestic or continental 3×3 leagues at the moment because of the pandemic.
Listed to play for Manila are Chico Lanete, Mac Tallo, Zach Huang and Cameroonian reinforcement Mike Nzeusseu. Reserves Mark Yee and Dennis Santos will play alongside Ralph Tansingco, and Jayvee Marcelino in Homegrown Grains Bocaue.
The one-day tournament is endorsed by FIBA 3×3 and regulated by the Games and Amusements Board.
Manila will be grouped with Adam Esli Pasay and Pacquiao Coffee Bacolod in Pool A while Bocaue is with MNL Kingpin Quezon City and ARQ Builders-Cebu in Pool B.
Pool C consists of Pasig Kingpins, Zamboanga Valientes MLV and BRT Sumisip-Basilan while Pool D has AMACOR Mandaluyong, Essen Immunoboost Sarangani and RBR Cabiao Nueva Ecija.
The top two teams from each pool will advance to the knockout playoffs later in the day with Pool A crossing over with C while Pools B and D face off.
All the games supported by TM and Gatorade will air on Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas’s Facebook page and on FIBA 3×3’s Youtube channel.