Chooks-Pilipinas 3×3. Photo by Randolph B. Leongson/ INQUIRER.net
Chooks-Pilipinas 3×3 still considers its 11th place finish in the 2017 Fiba 3×3 World Cup as an achievement given the short time the country had in preparing for the tournament.
The players, meanwhile, are looking at this stint as an eye-opener for the country when it comes to the 3×3 game.
“Though it’s still basketball, it’s a different type of game with how physical and how fast the game is,” said Kiefer Ravena. “It opened our eyes on what can be done and what to improve when it comes to 3×3. Having the knowledge of the game is very important so the next teams should be prepared and their minds should be well-conditioned.”
READ: Ravena: Chooks-Pilipinas raring to bask in 3×3 limelight
Jeron Teng agreed, noting that though speed may clearly have been on the Filipinos’ side, those were negated by the level of physicality of their bigger European.
“It’s super physical. We couldn’t take advantage of our speed because you might get past them, but they would really grab you,” he said.
This Philippine squad was considered as a dream team of sorts, with three second-generation stars bannering the team, but Paras said they paled in comparison with other countries who trot out professional players when it comes to the half-court game.
READ: Defense a priority for talented Chooks Pilipinas 3×3
“It’s rare that we get to France and rarer to be teammates with Jeron (Teng) and Kiefer (Ravena). We’re lucky that they entrusted us with this lineup, but with our opponents, they do 3×3 for a living. So this is an experience for us for the next 3×3 tournaments. We now know what to do and what we have to improve,” he said.
The Philippines finished third in Pool B, finishing the tournament with a 2-2 slate after wins over Romania and El Salvador.
But in Paras’ mind, though the country failed to progress from the group stages, this may just set the path for future 3×3 teams going forward.
READ: Against bigger foes, PH team to bank on teamwork in Fiba 3×3
“Looking at the bigger picture, this tournament is not for nothing. It’s a learning experience for us for the next 3×3 tournaments,” he said.
For Chooks-Pilipinas 3×3 coach Anton Altamirano, he believes that the country must find players focused on 3×3 the Philippines wants to compete with the rest of the world.
READ: Teng, Ravena aim for bigger prize in 3×3 World Cup
“We need to have experienced players. It’s hard to make a new team with players who will play the 3×3 game for the first time and we’re facing teams that have been playing for seven to eight years together. We need to invest on these players so that they’ll get used to it,” he said.
And this early, JR Quiñahan has extended a helping hand, especially with the Philippines hosting the 2018 tilt.
“I won’t mind if I don’t get chosen as a player. I’m happy to be a practice player so that I can share my experience to the next 3×3 teams,” he said.