Zamboanga City rules Chooks 3×3 President’s Cup leg 1

Chooks to Go 3×3 Leg 1 final between Zamboanga City and Butuan. CHOOKS PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—Joshua Munzon came though when it mattered most as Zamboanga City Chooks defeated Butuan, 21-17, to rule Leg 1 of the 2020 Chooks-to-Go Filipina’s 3×3 Wednesday at Inspire Sports Academy in Calamba.

Munzon, the country’s top 3×3 player, scored four of Family’s Brand Sardines’ last seven points after trailing the Uling Roasters 17-14 with three minutes left in the game.

The 6-foot-2 wing then calmly nailed a free throw, capping off his team’s 7-0 run, to take the title and the P100,000 prize money.

“Again, it showed we can fight through adversity,” said Munzon, who had 12 points in the Finals. “We just stuck to our script. We took advantage of our advantages.”

While Munzon did most of his damage late in the game, it was Alvin Pasaol who brought the fight early on with six points while Troy Rike and Santi Santillan combined for three points.

Karl Dehesa led the Uling Roasters with six points with Chris De Chavez and Chico Lanete adding four apiece and Franky Johnson chipping in three points.

Although Butuan failed to get the title, the Uling Roasters also became P100,000 richer after Bounty Agro Ventures, Inc. president Ronald Mascariñas pledged to give the amount to the opposing team when Zamboanga makes it to the finals.