Connect with us

Hi, what are you looking for?

Tiebreaker Times

3x3 Basketball

Best of 2020: Munzon, Pasaol, Rike, and Santillan close Chooks 3×3’s first chapter


Joshua Munzon, Alvin Pasaol, Troy Rike, and Santi Santillan took different paths before joining forces in the 2020 season of Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas 3×3.

Chooks-3x3-Pasig-vs.-Bataan-Munzon-1981 Best of 2020: Munzon, Pasaol, Rike, and Santillan close Chooks 3x3's first chapter 3x3 Basketball Bandwagon Wire Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas 3x3  - philippine sports news

Munzon, the country’s top 3×3 player, began his 3×3 career with the stacked Pasig-Grindhouse Kings team that also had Dylan Ababou, Troy Rike, and Taylor Statham. As expected, that crack team dominated the first-ever President’s Cup.

Choks-3x3-Patriots-Cup-first-leg-finals-pasig-def-basilan-troy-rike Best of 2020: Munzon, Pasaol, Rike, and Santillan close Chooks 3x3's first chapter 3x3 Basketball Bandwagon Wire Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas 3x3  - philippine sports news

Rike, ranked no. 5, would be left out of Pasig in the import-laden 2019 Patriot’s Cup. With a chip on his shoulder, he proved that he can be one of the best by steering Phenom-Basilan to the championship, together with Franky Johnson, Roosevelt Adams, and guest player Marcus Hammonds.

2019-Chooks-to-Go-Magiting-Cup-Balanga-Pure Best of 2020: Munzon, Pasaol, Rike, and Santillan close Chooks 3x3's first chapter 3x3 Basketball Bandwagon Wire Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas 3x3  - philippine sports news

During those two conferences, no. 2 Pasaol and no. 6 Santillan – both with Balanga – finished in second place. But in the season-ending Magiting Cup, the duo finally tasted the championship as they, together with Karl Dehesa and Chris De Chavez, finally overcame Pasig in the Grand Finals.

The quartet then joined forces come the 2020 season of the league, as the 2020 President’s Cup also served as the training ground for the national team. They carried with them the city of Zamboanga.

As expected, the team dominated the field, winning four of the five legs inside Inspire Sports Academy in Calamba, Laguna – including the Grand Finals.

Zamboanga City then headed to Doha with high hopes, since they were still in game shape unlike the rest of the competition.

But what happened in Doha was unexpected.

After a gallant stand against eventual-runner up Liman (15-22), the quartet – carrying the name Manila Chooks – suffered an upset of epic proportions against unranked squad Lusail, 14-19, to bow out of the Doha World Tour Masters.

#ReadMore  Midlife Halftime: Nesthy Petecio a clear favorite in Paris 2024 semis

It became the end of the 3×3 road for Munzon, Pasaol, Rike, and Santillan. The four have opted to join the 2021 PBA Rookie Draft. The past two years were actually borrowed time for Philippine 3×3.

Chooks-to-Go-Pilipinas-3X3-Coach-Eric-Altamirano-2-1 Best of 2020: Munzon, Pasaol, Rike, and Santillan close Chooks 3x3's first chapter 3x3 Basketball Bandwagon Wire Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas 3x3  - philippine sports news

Besides this, league commissioner Eric Altamirano also resigned from his post right after the President’s Cup. A month later, one of the voices of the league Sudan Daniel passed away due to a vicious asthma attack.

As successful as Chooks 3×3’s Calambubble was, it also marked the end of the first chapter of the country’s first-ever professional 3×3 basketball league.

Come 2021, a new chapter is set to be written. New players will rise as Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas embarks on its road to the 2024 Paris Olympics.

And these new players will be hoping to be like or upstage Munzon, Pasaol, Rike, and Santillan.

Written By




You May Also Like

Basketball

Rain or Shine capitalized on Roger Pogoy’s absence as it handed the depleted TNT a 107-86 beatdown to finally break through in the PBA...

Basketball

Mike Malonzo received the flowers he so deserved after providing the surprise spark in Rain or Shine’s upset of the twice-to-beat NLEX on Saturday...

Basketball

Experience was the difference as Rain or Shine completed its upset of the twice-to-beat NLEX, 103-92, to formalize the PBA Season 49 Philippine Cup...

Basketball

Jhonard Clarito did a little bit of everything to help Rain or Shine disarm the twice-to-beat NLEX, 92-89, and send their PBA Season 49...

Basketball

Ginebra ran away in the fourth quarter to beat Rain or Shine, 98-80, to claim the remaining twice-to-beat incentive for the PBA Season 49...

Basketball

San Miguel has clinched the No. 1 seed entering the PBA Season 49 Philippine Cup quarterfinals following a 126-91 crushing of a NorthPort side...

Basketball

San Miguel scored a crucial victory in its bid for a twice-to-beat advantage in the 2025 PBA Philippine Cup, fending off Rain or Shine,...

Basketball

Phoenix snatched the spotlight away from Calvin Abueva by taking down NorthPort, 118-107, in a clash between eliminated teams in the PBA Season 49...

Advertisement