SANTA ROSA (Laguna) – Cebu Chooks! handed the debuting Makati MNL Kingpin a 21-11 beatdown for a successful start to its 2022 Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas 3×3 Quest 2.0 campaign, Sunday at the Ayala Malls Solenad here.
New guy Marcus Hammonds led the country’s top-ranked 3×3 team with 11 points, including the game-sealing deuce with 22.7 seconds left.
Mike Harry Nzeusseu finished with five points, Mac Tallo scored three, while Brandon Ramirez added two for Cebu, who’s out for redemption following an early exit in the recent FIBA 3×3 World Tour Riyadh Masters.
They share Pool A leadership with Butuan Chooks! as the Chooks program’s developmental unit dominated Botolan Hayati, 21-9.
JP Cauilan led the assault with 14 points, with Jason Strait and Moustapha Arafat combining for seven markers as the squad gave the team of celebrity cager Gerald Anderson a harsh welcome to the competitions.
Meanwhile, Manila Chooks! and Talisay EGS emerged as the joint leaders of Pool B after acing their respective assignments.
Back in action for the first time since the NEOM Super Quest 2022 in Dubai last October, Manila received a huge lift from the debuting Leon Lorenzana to take down Quezon City Ericcson by way of a 21-13 result.
The former UE Red Warrior finished with 10 points, all of which he got from beyond the arc as the young guard put on a shooting clinic — much to the delight of the crowd that filled up the Activity Center.
Dave Ando made four points, including the basket that sealed the deal with 46 seconds left. Henry Iloka also had four while Dennis Santos added three.
Talisay would go on to join Manila atop the group after gutting out a 22-17 victory over GenSan in the fourth match of the day.
The comebacking Paul Desiderio showed that he fits just well in the halfcourt game, starring for the Cebuano side with 14 points, highlighted by the winner from two-point distance with 42.8 seconds left in the match.
The scores:
Pool A Game 1
Cebu (21) – Hammonds 11, Nzeusseu 5, Tallo 3, Ramirez 2.
Makati (11) – Sario 4, Morales 3, Diokno 3, Pableo 1.
Time: 9:37.3 (Hammonds 2)
Pool B Game 1
Manila 21 – Lorenzana 10, Ando 4, Iloka 4, Santos 3.
Quezon City 13 – Delfinado 6, Laminou 4, Rosales 3, Fuentes 0.
Time: 9:14 (Ando)
Pool A Game 2
Butuan 21 – Cauilan 14, Strait 5, Arafat 2, Octobre 0.
Botolan 9 – Gozum 4, Anderson 2, Ndong 2, Kapunan 1.
Time: 8:54 (Cauilan 2)
Pool B Game 2
Talisay 22 -Desiderio 14, Napao 3, Roncal 3, Akomo 1.
GenSan 17 – Talan 8, Deles 6, Mendoza 3, Catipay 0.
Time: 9:17.2 (Desiderio – 2)
