Cebu Chooks’ brave stand was not enough to topple world no. 4 Riga of Latvia, bowing 21-17 (9:07.5) to open the Pool B competition of the 2022 FIBA 3×3 Dubai Expo Super Quest, Thursday at the Expo Sports Arena in Dubai.
Rough was the start of Cebu Chooks as the world’s top 3×3 player Nauris Miezis made it rain on the Filipinos for a 10-3 start.
Filipino-Canadian bruiser Brandon Ramirez though would rally Cebu Chooks back, draining back-to-back deuces in a 7-2 spurt to cut the lead down to two, 13-11, midway through the game.
It was a nip-and-tuck affair from there with Miezis knocking down big buckets for the Latvians while the Cebuano duo of Mac Tallo and Zach Huang kept their team close.
With 1:17 left and Riga clinging to a 17-16 lead, Miezis knocked down a two-ball to put Riga just two points away from taking the game.
Though Tallo was able to score on a nifty move inside, the 31-year-old Miezis knocked down a one-legged deuce to seal the win for Riga with 52.5 seconds to spare.
Miezis had 18 points in the contest built on five deuces.
Both Ramirez and Nzeusseu led the way for Cebu with six points each.
Up next for Cebu Chooks is USA’s Chicago at 9:30PM (Manila time).
The Scores:
Riga 21 – Miezis 18, Strēlnieks 2, Čavars 1.
Cebu Chooks 17 – Ramirez 6, Nzeusseu 6,Tallo 3, Huang 2.
