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| (Image Source: ABS-CBN Sports/Chooks Pilipinas 3x3) |
Following the respective successful staging of the 2019 Chooks-To-Go
Pilipinas 3x3 League and the Asia Pacific Super Quest, the Pasig Grindhouse
Kings and the 1Bataan Risers which are now known as the Pasig Chooks and
Balanga Chooks have literally reintroduced the Philippines upon its return to
the international stage after their sensational outings in the recently
concluded 2019 FIBA 3x3 World Tour Masters held in Doha, Qatar last April 18
and 19. Their performances throughout the two-day affair have given the country
a big boost to its standing in the FIBA 3x3 global rankings.
From 45th place last year, the Philippines now rose to number 31 in the
federation rankings earning a total of 1,806,820 points after sending its two
representing teams to the FIBA-sanctioned Level 10 event. Pasig Chooks, on the
other hand, gave itself a big boost in the global team rankings following its
impressive fifth-place finish in Doha. The team is now rank number 27 which is much
higher than its previous rank by 24 notches. Pasig scored a massive upset
against world number 2 Liman, 19-16, and routed Doha's Katara, 21-14, in the group
stage only to be overwhelmed by defending champion and world number 3 Riga
Ghetto in the quarterfinals, 21-15.
Meanwhile, Pasig's Taylor Statham is now hailed as the top 3x3 player
in the Philippines overtaking fellow Pasig Chooks player Joshua Munzon in the
process after the Doha World Tour Masters. The 6'6" forward is now rank number
114 (349,080 points) in the global individual standings while Munzon is number
121 (338,520 points). Alvin Pasaol of Balanga Chooks cracked the top 150 3x3
players in the world list at 148 with 308,680 points and completing the list of
Filipinos in the top 250 rankings is Leonard Santillan at number 221.
Bounty Agro Ventures president and Chooks-To-Go Pilipinas 3x3 League
owner Ronald Mascariñas lauded this development but he knows that it is just the
beginning and far from over as Chooks-To-Go will continue to support Philippine
basketball's enduring efforts in promoting 3x3 basketball, developing its players
and competing further in the international stage. In fact, Pasig Chooks' next
assignment is the Kunshan Challenger Series on May 18-19, 2019 which is a
qualifier for the upcoming Chengdu Masters. The Philippines seeks to crack the
top 24 list by November 1st (All Saints' Day) to hopefully compete in the
Olympic Qualifying Tournament where the top eight are slated to play in the
2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Japan. FIBA mandated that the top ten players in
one country are allowed to compose the national team's lineup for the Olympics.
