3×3 league gets IATF green light to hold bubble season in Laguna

All set for Chooks to Go Pilipinas 3×3 tournament in a bubble set up. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — After committing to holding a full bubble, Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas 3×3 has been cleared to push through with its 2020 season.

The league finally got the go-signal from the Inter-Agency Task Force to stage the President’s Cup on Oct. 21 at Inspire Academy in Calamba, Laguna after its first proposal was denied two weeks ago.

The IATF gave the league a provisional license to hold its first season from Oct. 16 to 31.

“We are grateful for the Inter-Agency Task Force composed of the Games and Amusements Board (GAB), Department of Health (DOH), and Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) for giving us the clearance to hold our bubble,” said league owner Ronald Mascariñas.

“All of us are excited to get the ball rolling for our season.”

Everyone who is entering the bubble will be under pre-bubble quarantine and will undergo RT-PCR testing before entering Inspire Academy on Oct. 14 to 15.

Practices will be on Oct. 16 to 18 while a preseason tournament featuring all 12 teams will be held on Oct. 19 two days before the first leg tips off.

Three more legs will be played on Oct. 23, 25 and 27 while The Grand Finals, which has P1 million at stake, takes place on Oct. 30.

Everyone will leave the bubble on October 31 and must undergo a 14-day home quarantine.
“Everyone is affected by this pandemic and in our small way, we aim to give hope through the sport of 3×3 basketball,” Mascariñas said.

Teams competing in the FIBA 3×3-endorsed tournament are Zamboanga Chooks-to-Go, Uling Roasters-Butuan City, Bacolod-Masters Sardines, Nueva Ecija Rice Vanguards, Palayan City Capitals, Zamboanga Peninsula Valientes MLV, Porac Big Boss Cement MSC, Bicol 3×3 Pro, Pasig Sta. Lucia Realtors, Saranggani Marlins, Pagadian City Rocky Sports, and Petra Cement.

Zamboanga is composed of national team pool players in Joshua Munzon, Alvin Pasaol, Troy Rike, and Santi Santillan.

“We are doing this to help our national team stay competitive before the Olympic Qualifying Tournament next year. They will later on give glory to this country.”