Phenom-Basilan acquires 1M check as Chooks 3×3 Patriot’s Cup champion

With this victory, Basilan will be the country’s representatives for the 2019 FIBA 3×3 Jeddah Masters in October. (Photo: Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas/Facebook)

The score ended at 21-20 with six-foot-three Filipino-American Franky Johnson hitting the game-winning shot — hitting a two-pointer after a handoff from teammate Troy Rike. Basilan representatives Marcus Hammonds and Roosevelt Adams also contributed 11 and six points respectively. Rike chipped one point.

For Balanga, Alvin Pasaol and Travis Franklin both provided seven points individually, while Chris De Chavez sent the game to overtime with one of his three points. Karl Dehesa also added three.

When talking about his jumper, Johnson explained, “Everything was just moving so fast. I wasn’t even thinking about that shot, but as soon as my teammate got the rebound and got the ball to me, I was just kinda open a little bit so I just decided to pull it.” He added, “Thank God it went in, so I’m really excited about that.”

Rike shared his perspective as well, “The play didn’t come off as cleanly as we wanted, but that’s what I’m saying. I trust Franky, I believe in Franky and he’s one hell of a shooter. So I know that if I give him even an inch of space, I knew he was gonna knock it down.”

With this victory, Basilan will be the country’s representatives for the 2019 FIBA 3×3 Jeddah Masters in October. In the meantime, first runner-up finishers Balanga, who received a P400,000 consolation prize, will be booking their tickets to the 2019 Xiongan Challenger in August. Gold’s Gym-Pasig Kings finished at third place scoring P200,000.

Among the other winners for the last leg of the tournament are Kiran Shastri for the Coca-Cola Two-Point Shootout and David Carlos and Brodie Stephens as co-champions for the Coca-Cola Slam Dunk Competition.