Though falling short of the team’s goal of upstaging the ninth-place finish of the 2016 Pilipinas-3×3 team, the young Chooks-Pilipinas 3×3 squad that finished 11th among 20 nations admitted that the experience they had gained in the 2017 FIBA 3×3 World Cup will help when the Philippines hosts the event next year.
In a homecoming gathering hosted by Chooks-to-Go on Saturday afternoon at the Discovery Suites, the team, — composed of Kiefer Ravena, Jeron Teng, Kobe Paras, and JR Quinahan — shared the team’s experience in Nantes, France.
“Binigay namin yung best namin but it’s a different type of game with how physical and how fast the game is,” team skipper Kiefer Ravena shared. “Learning experience siya for us and the whole country on what can be done and what to improve sa 3×3.”
“Iba talaga ang laro sa 3×3, sobrang pisikal talaga. Hindi namin na-take advantage yung speed kasi kahit mabilis ka, hahawakan ka ng kalaban,” Jeron Teng furthered.
The team finished with a 2-2 slate, beating Romania and El Salvador while falling to eventual-semifinalists France and Slovenia.
For Paras, the disadvantage of traveling more than 6,000 miles from the Philippines to France was one that they’d had to overcome.
“Yung ibang teams, nag-bus lang. Kami a total of 24 hours yung flight,” the 19-year-old said. “May pagod din kami but hindi naman excuse yun. They do 3×3 for a living. Kami suwerte lang na nagtiwala yung SBP and Chooks-to-Go sa amin.”
But even if they failed to exceed their own expectations, the team is hoping that it serves as an eye-opener to develop the grassroots program of 3×3 basketball, a sport that has been recognized as an Olympic sport for the 2020 Tokyo games.
“Pinakaimportante is yung experience. For the upcoming, kailangang kumuha ka ng experienced na. Mahirap na gumawa ng bagong players na first time maglalaro ng 3×3,” said Pilipinas-3×3 coach Anton Altamirano. “Kalaban namin seven to eight years ng magkakasama.
“Kailangan mag-invest tayo sa players ng 3×3 para masanay sila.”
And Quinahan, the eldest player in the team at 33 years of age, plans to help out in the practices of the next 3×3 teams.
“Sana sa susunod, makakuha pa tayo ng dagdag na panalo,” Quinahan, a pioneer in the 3×3 game, shared. “Tutulong ako sa kanila kahit practice player lang.”
Chooks-to-Go, an advocate for the growth of 3×3 basketball, plans to continue its support in the lead-up to the 2018 World Cup.
“The industry is realizing how big 3×3 is, lalo na it’s an Olympic sport. As long as the SBP needs our support, we’ll be there,” closed Bounty Agro Ventures Inc. president Ronald Mascariñas.
