SANTA ROSA — Chico Lanete pulled off yet another heroic act as Manila Chooks! stunned Ulaanbaatar MMC Energy, 21-20, in the group phase of the 2022 Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas 3×3 International Quest, Friday at Ayala Malls Solenad here.
The 43-year-old veteran showed nerves of steel anew, knocking down the game-clinching free throw with 13.4 seconds left as the home team collected their second win in as many outings to rise atop the Pool A standings.
Also the Chooks 3×3 program’s head trainer, Lanete finished with four points as Manila is now knocking on the door of the semifinals.
“Talagang pinagtrabahuhan namin ‘yung panalo na ‘yun,” said the evergreen guard, who’s the No. 4 3×3 player in the Philippines.No., 5
Nigerian big man Henry Iloka top-scored for Manila with eight points. No. 5 Dennis Santos provided five points, while Dave Ando chimed in four.
Manila seized control of the match early and Ando, one of the program’s fresh acquisitions, came through. He then gave his side a 16-13 lead with 2:10 left as an apt response to their heavily favored counterparts’ fightback.
Santos then drilled a big two-pointer to put them at match point with 45 seconds left, but it was quickly negated. Tsenguunbayar Gotov tied things up at 20-all through a wide-open bucket from point-blank range.
Lady luck, though, smiled at Manila. Lanete missed a baseline floater but regained possession, and was fouled as he tried to go for the kill.
He then weaved his magic by flexing his veteranship like what he’s done many times in the past, dealing the opposition their first loss of the tilt.
“Good thing, nag-step up mga kakampi ko, especially yung bunso namin na si Dave,” Lanete lauded. “Malaking bagay ito sa Manila dahil hindi pa ganun kadami yung games namin this season.”
Dulguun Enkhbaat led Ulaanbaatar with nine points in the stinging defeat that pulled them down to second in the group (1-1). Meanwhile, Kuala Lumpur Aseel (1-1) and Zavkhan MMC Energy (0-2) are third and fourth, respectively.
On the other hand, Saitama is also nearing the semis as it is currently sitting on top of Pool B with a clean 2-0 card following surprising victories.
The Alphas first took down Cebu Chooks! in a low-scoring affair, 13-11. They then followed it up with a massive 20-11 conquest of Zaisan MMC Energy.
One of the three Mongolian squads taking part in the Level 8 FIBA 3×3 Tournament, Zaisan and Cebu are level at 1-1. The latter defeated the still-winless Butuan, 21-19 (9:02.3).
The Scores:
Fifth Game (Pool A)
Kuala Lumpur 13 – Zhen 4, Liew 3, Gan 3, Ting 3.
Zavkhan 12 – Bayarsaikhan 6, Lhagvaa 3, Tsermaa 2, Khureltogoo 1.
Sixth Game (Pool B)
Saitama 20 – Milakovic 8, Atanasov 6, Ochiai 3, Ozawa 3.
Zaisan 11 – Myagmarsuren 6, Nyamdorj 4, Chuluunbaatar 1, Batsaikhan 0.
Seventh Game (Pool A)
Manila 21 – Iloka 8, Santos 5, Lanete 4, Ando 4.
Ulaanbaatar 20 – Enkhbat 9, Gotov 7, Davaasambuu 2, Tsogt 2.
Time: Chico Lanete – free throw (9:46.6)
Eighth Game (Pool B)
Cebu 21 – Ramirez 8, Nzeusseu 6, Tallo 6, Tolentino 1.
Butuan 19 – Strait 9, Cauilan 4, Catacutan 3, Eze 3.
Time: Mike Nzeusseu – dunk (9:02.3)
