Pasig Chooks could not get much-needed momentum heading into the knockout playoffs of the 2019 FIBA 3X3 Poitiers Challenger as they were overwhelmed by Swiss team Lausanne, 17-22 (2:10), early Saturday morning (Manila time).
Still, by going 1-1 in Pool D of this level nine-FIBA 3×3 tourney, Pasig advances to the next round, taking on Pool B leader Kranj of Slovenia Saturday evening at 11:30 pm.
The inside-outside duo of high-flying forward Natan Jurkovitz and pint-sized guard Gilles Martin proved were unstoppable all game long with the former finishing with eight points while the latter adding seven.
With the two clicking, Lausanne built an imposing 16-6 lead with under five minutes left in the game.
Making things worse for Pasig was that they were in foul trouble early in the game as well, committing their seventh foul with 5:55 still on the clock.
Still, Pasig fought on.
Down 19-9, Taylor Statham and Joshua Munzon connived, going on a 7-0 blitz to give the no. 23 ranked team in the world a late scare.
Jurkovitz though was unperturbed, throwing down a reverse jam to send Lausanne to match point.
Munzon tried to spark a final run for Pasig, scoring on a layup with 2:12 left. Two seconds later, however, Jurkovitz knocked down the game-sealing deuce to seal their match-up against home team Nantes in the next round.
Munzon and Statham paced Pasig with seven points each as Nikola Pavlovic, who dropped 10 points against Lyon, was limited to just two markers.
The Scores:
Pasig 17 – Munzon 7, Statham 7, Pavlovic 2, Ababou 1.
Lausanne 22 – Jurkovitz 8, Martin 7, Lehmann 4, Molteni 3.
