Alvin Pasaol and the unheralded Balanga Chooks (1Bataan Risers) took down fancied teams during the opening day of the 2019 FIBA 3×3 World Tour Masters in Doha.
To open their campaign, Balanga showed the world that they belonged in 3×3 basketball’s biggest stage after stunning eventual-champion Riga Ghetto, 19-17.
Then with Santi Santillan out, Balanga outlasted Russian champion Moscow Inanomo in the longest game of the tournament – 12 minutes and 20 seconds – 20-19 in overtime.
For his part, the product of UE knocked down the sole buzzer-beater of the tournament to boot the Russians out of the tournament.
It was an unexpected moment for Pasaol, he admitted.
“Sobrang saya pa rin. Laki ng pasasalamat namin sa mga Pilipino na sumuporta sa amin dito sa Qatar,” said Pasaol, who averaged 5.0 points in the tournament.
“Yung mga games namin, hindi namin expected na aabot kami ng quarters, na kaya namin makipagsabayan sa mga top teams ng mundo.”
Almost 24 hours after the tourney’s longest game, though, Balanga were dealt the fastest loss of the tournament.
In the quarterfinals, Pasaol and Travis Franklin were shackled by former no. 1 team in the world Liman. The Serbians needed just six minutes and 53 seconds to boot out the Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas Asia Pacific Super Quest’s runners-up, 21-9.
Moving forward, the native of Davao knows that pacing is what makes the top teams in the world elite.
“Ayun, nag-fall short kami nung quarters. Siguro, ang pinakamalaking natutunan namin dito ay yung pacing. Kailangan in control ka sa laro na ito lagi, tulad nung Serbia,” shared Pasaol.
“Siguro, yun yung pagtutuunan namin ng pansin heading sa second conference.”
