Alvin Pasaol willed the 1Bataan Risers to a huge 21-18 win over the Jakarta West Bandits to advance to the finals of the Chooks-to-Go 3×3 Asia Pacific Super Quest, on Sunday at the SM Megamall Fashion Hall.
By making the finals, the Risers became the second Philippine team to make the FIBA 3×3 World Tour masters which will be held on April 18-19 in Doha, Qatar. Prior to this, the Pasig Grindhouse Kings had qualified through the Chooks-to-Go Presidents Cup.
Pasaol led Bataan with nine markers, including a corner two pointer to give the Risers a comfortable 19-14 lead.
Karl Dehesa’s free throw formally won the game for the Risers with a second remaining in the contest.
“Sobrang saya namin sa nalampasan namin kasi sobrang athletic ng kalaban namin, mas malakaki… dami, pero we made it. Siguro dahil sa sipag namin at sa bonding. Sobrang saya lang,” said Pasaol.
“Four days kami nag-prepare. Pinag-usapan namin chemistry namin kasi wala namang star player sa’min. Depensa kami; opensa, given na yun. Pero pinaka-malaki yung depensa,” he added.
Reinforcement Travis Franklin added seven markers, while Dehesa added four points.
The win also assured the Philippines of a representative in the finals after the country’s top 3×3 pro team Pasig Grindhouse Kings fell in the semis to Tokyo Dime.Exe of Japan, 16-11.
Tomoya Ochiai paced Tokyo with six points, while Nikola Pavlovic led the Kings with five. Tokyo also punched their ticket to Doha.
It will be the second time that Tokyo and Bataan will face off. The former had scored a 21-17 win over the Risers in the group stages last Saturday.
Pasig, who already qualified to the World Tour Masters Doha by winning the President’s Cup, will also compete in the Kunshan Challengers from May 18 to 19 because of their third-place finish. The Kings also brought home US$ 7,000.
Jakarta West pocketed US$4,000 and will also head to Kunshan.
The Scores:
First Game:
1Bataan 21 –– Pasaol 9, Franklin 7, Dehesa 4, Santillan 1.
Jakarta West 18 — Goodman 6, Irving 6, Yancy 4, Atkinson 2.
Second Game:
Tokyo Dime 16 — Ochiai 6, Suzuki 5, Perunovic 3, Komatsu 2.
Pasig 11 — Pavlovic 5, Munzon 4, Statham 2, Rike 0.
