Besides racking up federation points for the country, Chooks-to-Go is also supporting the grassroots of 3×3 basketball.
The brightest young 3×3 cagers in the country converged at the Food by the Court in Gil Puyat Avenue, Makati City last May 10 to 13 for the 2019 Chooks-to-Go/Wilson Basketball 3×3 Challenge.
Eighty-eight teams competed in the four-day event that saw national champions crowned in four age groups — 19-under, 16-under, 13-under, and 10-under.
“We hope to help find talents across the country who can represent us in 3×3 tournaments,” said Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas 3×3 league owner Ronald Mascariñas. “And with the help of Wilson Basketball, we can increase the awareness of 3×3 basketball to the youth with these types of tournaments.”
Wilson Basketball is the official ball of FIBA 3X3 and Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas 3×3.
In the 19U division, the Cavite quartet of Shawndy Algire, Francis Ignacio, Ongking Caylo, and CJ Austria capped their dominant campaign with an 11-4 trouncing of a three-man Manila East squad to complete a five-game sweep of this level-five tourney.
Metro East, composed of Miles Cruz, Allen Alvarado, Andrei Cruz, and JB Discutido, took down the 16U division.
Behind the endgame heroics of Cruz, Metro East defeated CAMANAVA in the finale, 18-17.
Antique’s Andrie Kaabay, Kent Navarro, John Ryan Mondano, and Abraham Wollowick were crowned as the 13U champions after defeating Metro Manila, 9-4, while Pototan’s Tabby Espartero, Jacob Javelosa, Carlos Reonal, and Ryton Celis won the 10U division after escaping Bacolod, 14-13.
All the winners brought home P 20,000 worth of goods from Chooks-to-Go, RC Cola, Toby’s Sports, Niña Asiana, Red Bull, Minute Burger, Under Armour, and AQ Supports.
Serving as the guests of honor in the event were Chooks-to-Go ambassadors Calvin Abueva and Kobe Paras.
“Nakakatuwa na makita na buhay na buhay ang 3×3 dito sa bansa natin,” said Abueva, a member of the Manila North squad that competed in the 2015 FIBA 3X3 World Tour Finals. “Sa larong ito talaga titiba ang isang bata kung gusto nila magpatuloy sa basketball.”
“Being an athlete, it always feels good to teach the kids what you have experienced,” added Kobe Paras, a former member of the Men’s National 3×3 Basketball Team. “Hopefully, me and Calvin gave them some bits of advice that they could use moving forward both on and off the court.”
