PH bets Balanga, Pasig stun top seeded teams in Day 1 of FIBA 3×3 World Masters
Alvin Pasaol of Balanga Chooks. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines—The Philippines performed beyond expectations in the group stages of 2019 FIBA 3×3 World Tour Masters Thursday night.
Balanga Chooks and Pasig Chooks both went 2-0 in the first day of competition, stunning world-class teams in Doha, Qatar to enter the knockout playoff round.
“Our teams showed the world what we have been doing for the last three months,” said Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas 3×3 commissioner Eric Altamirano.
READ: PH’s Balanga Chooks stuns no. 3 Riga Ghetto in Fiba 3×3 World Masters
“Unlike past teams that were confused with the rules, Pasig and Balanga only made a few mental mistakes during their games. In addition, they were disciplined.”
Balanga set the tone for the Philippine delegation, pulling off a 19-17 stunner over no. 3 seed Riga Ghetto of Latvia then followed it up with a 20-19 overtime thriller over Moscow Inanomo.
Alvin Pasaol was the hero for the Filipinos in the second game, scoring a clutch two-pointer to clinch the victory. In 3×3 rules, the first time to score in OT wins.
Pasig, meanwhile, opened with a dominating 21-14 win over home team Qatar then took down no. 1 Liman of Serbia, 19-16, in a massive upset for a sweep of Pool A.
READ: Pasig Chooks beats Katara in impressive start for PH
“I am very happy in the way our team took care of business today. Beating the number one team in the world is a great accomplishment but we are nowhere near satisfied,” said Statham.
Balanga’s American reinforcement Travis Franklin ended up as the day’s leading scorer with 24 points. Pasig’s Statham finished in second with 18 points.
Pasig squares off against Riga Ghetto to open the quarterfinals stage at 9:45pm tournament at 9:45 pm Friday while Balanga Liman at 11:15 pm.
