As expected, the number two-ranked 3×3 team in world, Slovenia, defeated the young Chooks-Pilipinas 3×3 squad, 21-14, early Wednesday morning at the Parc des Chantiers de I’lle in Nantes, France.
With the loss, the Philippines formally bowed out of the 2017 FIBA 3×3 World Cup, as hosts France (2-1) and Slovenia (3-0) clinched the top two seeds in Pool B.
Though the loss was expected, what Slovenia — a team that had the 11th to 14th ranked players in the world — did not expect was the stand put up by Kiefer Ravena and the rest of the Philippine squad.
Ravena led the Philippines with seven points, while Kobe Paras added four points.
Early shooting woes plagued the Nationals, a no-no against the former world champions. The Philippines fell by as much as 10 points, 14-4, with 4:38 left after two-pointer by Gasper Ovnik.
Ovnik and Simon Finzgar scored seven points each.
Behind Ravena, the Philippines fought back. A two-pointer by the former two-time UAAP MVP sparked a 7-1 Chooks-Pilipinas rally. The run was capped by a JR Quinahan put-back off of a Paras miss with 3:14 remaining.
Back-to-back long range bombs by Ovnik and Simon Finzgar stopped the Slovenian bleeding, giving their side a 19-12 edge, while a basket by Adin Zavgic sent Slovenia to match point.
Ravena tried to rally his troops back with his second two-pointe, but a miss by Ovnik was cleaned up by Zavgic to seal the win for the top seeds with 1:20 to spare.
Jeron Teng had two points, while Quinahan chipped in a point.
The Philippines (1-2) looks to end their run on a high note when they face El Salvador at 3:00am.
Photo from FIBA.com
