CALAMBA, LAGUNA – Sarangani once again swept Pool A of the Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas 3×3 President’s Cup powered by TM, taking down Leg Three champion Uling Roasters-Butuan City in stunning fashion, 21-19 (8:23), Tuesday at the INSPIRE Academy here.
Carlo Escalambre and Pamboy Raymundo played a huge part in the upset victory.
Clinging to just a 19-17 lead, Escalambre drove to the lane for a tough layup to send the Marlins to matchpoint with 1:54 left.
A Karl Dehesa deuce gave life to Butuan City but off the inbound, Raymundo made a mad dash to the paint for the game-winner.
Escalambre played huge with 10 points while Raymundo added eight markers.
“Nakachamba lang. Gusto lang talaga namin makabawi kasi disappointing yung Leg Three namin. Nag-sweep pero tanggal nung playoffs,” said Escalambre as they enter another playoff in this tournament sanctioned by the Games and Amusements board and endorsed by FIBA 3×3 as a top seed.
Butuan’s Franky Johnson sat out the leg to prepare for the Grand Finals on Friday, October 30.
Meanwhile, Palayan City, who is coming off an overtime heartbreaker at the hands of Family’s Brand Sardines-Zamboanga City Chooks, vented its ire on Pagadian City Rocky Sports with a 21-6 (7:07) rout.
The Palayan quartet took turns in pounding hapless Pagadian with Sarao leading the way with six points.
Big Boss Cement-Porac and Pasig-Sta. Lucia, on the other hand, punched their tickets to the next round as well.
Porac booted out Roxas ZN after an 18-15 win in Pool B while Pasig overwhelmed Bicol-PAXFUL 3×3 pro, 21-17, in Pool D.
Dylan Ababou had nine points for Porac who gave the Zamboanga Valientes an assist as well.
Ced Ablaza, on the other hand, had six points for the Realtors.
Nueva Ecija also made it to the next round by virtue of Pasig’s win.
Four more elimination round games, the knockout playoffs, and the TM side events are taking place as of publishing.
