Bataan dominates first leg of Chooks-to-Go 3×3 tournament

“Ang mga Manok ng Bataan, Bataan Risers, proved that they were the rightful kings as they were crowned as the champions of the first leg of the Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas 3×3 President’s Cup, topping the Pasig Grindhouse Kings, 19-18 in the Finals on Saturday at the SM Megamall Events Center in Mandaluyong.” (File Photo: Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas/Facebook)

The 1Bataan Risers ended up reigning the first round of match-ups last Saturday, February 16 for the Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas 3×3 President’s Cup at the SM Megamall Events Center in Mandaluyong.

The final two teams resulted in the 1Bataan Risers and the Pasig Grindhouse Kings, with the score resulting in 19-18 in favor of the Risers. University of the East (UE) star Alvin Pasaol and recent De La Salle University (DLSU) graduate Santi Santillan worked together to bring the crown home to Balanga, considering that Team Pasig was the champion during the preseason. Both Pasaol and Santilla contributed seven points each, while teammates Sean Manganti and Anton Asistio performed as well, resulting in their P100,000 cash prize. The Pasig Pirates fought hard to defend their title as well, Dylan Ababou chipping seven points, while Taylor Statham provided six.

According to Pasaol about their victory, they were “so happy” because they “really worked hard,” elaborating in Filipino, “I guess we beat them through hard work. We don’t have any other strategy because they are a lot bigger than us. We’re already the underdogs, now we’re undersized as well.”

At the same event, Kobe Paras stunned the audience as he won the Dunk competition with a one-handed jump over four slouched referees. The judges gave him an almost perfect score at 49, while the second-placer was Daniel Chatman with 39 points. Ababou won the three-point shootout. Carga Valenzuela and the Pasay Voyagers also succeeded in entering the next round of competition, that will be happening at the same venue on February 24.

Among the special guests that graced the event include former Gilas Pilipinas members Coach Tab Baldwin, Coach Chot Reyes, and Paras, Kai Sotto, Terrence Romeo, and Calvin Abueva. International Basketball Federation (FIBA) 3×3 business director Fei Gao and FIBA Oceania and Singapore executive director David Crocker were present as well.