Both Cebu and Manila Chooks suffered disappointing losses in their second games in the 2022 Ulaanbaatar FIBA 3×3 Super Quest, Friday at UB Palace in Mongolia.
Cebu suffered a stunning 10-21 (6:34) loss to Japan’s Yokohama Beefman in Pool A.
Cold were Mac Tallo and Cebu in the 10-minute affair, shooting just 7-of-13 from the field.
Behind Serbian Lazar Popovic, Yokohama raced to an 18-7 then never let up.
Popovic scored the winner via a hook shot with 3:26 remaining.
Popovic ended up with seven points. Tatsuhito Noro and Alexis Minatoya both got six points apiece and combined for five deuces.
Mike Nzeusseu led Cebu with five points, while Tallo added four.
Both squads hold identical 1-1 slates heading into the final game of the group stages. Ulaanbaatar leads Pool A at 1-0 while Amgalan is 0-1.
The top three teams in each pool will advance to the knockout playoffs tomorrow, with the top seed gaining an automatic semis berth.
Meanwhile, Manila Chooks succumbed to Mongolia’s Zavkhan, 14-21 (8:38).
Manila overcame a slow start, eventually cutting an early eight-point deficit down to five, 12-17, behind Henry Iloka.
Enkhsaikhan Bayarsaikhan then stopped Zavkhan’s bleeding with a deuce followed by a free throw by Tserenbaatar Enkhtaivan for match point.
Enkhtaivan would score the winner with 1:22 remaining.
Enkhtaivan led the way for Zavkhan with nine points and four rebounds. Batzayaa Tsermaa added eight markers.
Iloka and Chico Lanete were the sole bright spots for Manila with eight and four points, respectively. Iloka also grabbed seven rebounds.
Zavkhan has assured itself of a quarterfinals slot with the win. On the other hand, Manila is at second with a 1-1 slate in Pool B. Zaisan and Sansar are both 0-1.
The Scores:
Pool A:
Yokohama 21 – Popovic 7, Minatoya 6, Noro 6, Hall 2.
Cebu 10 – Nzeusseu 5, Tallo 4, Ramirez 1, Huang 0.
Time: Popovic (6:34)
Pool B:
Zavkhan 21 – Enkhtaivan 9, Tsermaa 8, Bayarsaikhan 2, Lhagvaa 2.
Manila 14 – Iloka 8, Lanete 4, Santos 1, Dennison 1.
Time: Enkhtaivan (8:38)
