It’s been three years since the world’s first-ever FIBA 3×3 Super Quest, then the first Challenger tournament was held in the country. Now, Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas 3×3 brings the World Tour Masters back to the Philippines.
On Friday evening, FIBA 3×3 has announced that the Philippines will have two tours in the top-level tournament – the Chooks-to-Go FIBA 3×3 Manila Masters and the Chooks-to-Go FIBA 3×3 Cebu Masters.
This is the first time the country will host the Manila Masters since 2015. It takes place from May 28-29, 2022. Meanwhile, the first-ever Cebu Masters is scheduled from October 1-2, 2022.
For Chooks-to-Go president Ronald Mascariñas, now is the time to bring back the World Tour Masters to the Philippines.
“Since 2019, the goals of Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas 3×3 is to expose the Filipino basketball player to world-class competition while bringing quality 3×3 basketball to the fans,” said Mascariñas. “Two years before the 2024 Paris Olympics, we need to garner FIBA 3×3 points to qualify for the tournament or the Olympic Qualifying Tournament.
“By hosting the top-level tournaments, we get maximum points while also giving our players more experience and mileage in international 3×3,” he continued.
Utsunomiya will open the season on May 14-15. Besides Manila and Cebu, France, Prague, Lausanne, Debrecen, Montreal, Chengdu, Jeddah, Hong Kong, and Macau will also have Masters tournaments.
The season closes on December 9-10 in Abu Dhabi.
Only Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas 3×3 players will be taking part in the FIBA 3×3 pro circuit.
“I think we should be very grateful to Chooks-to-Go for insisting and continuing its effort to help 3×3 in the Philippines,” said FIBA 3×3 managing director Alex Sanchez. “We always thought and believed that the Philippines is a great opportunity and market for 3×3.
“Therefore, we can only be grateful for this continuous effort in these difficult times.”
