Pasig Chooks could not score an upset against world no. 4 NY Harlem in the quarterfinals of the Kaohsiung Challenger, falling 13-21 (9:00), Sunday.
Slow starts have hounded the top Philippine club in this tournament, which also serves as a qualifier for the 2019 Nanjing Masters. This time, they fell back early, 5-0. Behind 52nd best 3×3 player Joey King, Harlem’s lead grew to as high as nine 14-5.
Nikola Pavlovic and Joshua Munzon tried to create a contest out of this affair, slicing the lead down to five, 18-13, with three minutes left.
Kidani Brutus was able to stop the bleeding, before knocking down the game-winning deuce with a minute to spare to advance to the semifinals of this level-nine FIBA 3X3 tournament.
Pavlovic paced Pasig with seven points, while Munzon and Troy Rike added four and two markers, respectively. Pasig went just 4-of-19 from downtown.
King led Harlem with nine points and six rebounds, while Brutus and Antoinne Morgano had six points each.
Pasig advanced to the playoffs after going 1-1 in Pool C. After falling to Edmondon, 12-21, the Kings bounced back with a 21-9 demolition of Panaji 3BL.
The Scores:
Pasig 13 – Pavlovic 7, Munzon 4, Rike 2, Ababou 0.
NY Harlem 21 – King 9, Brutus 6, Morgano 6, Seagers 0.
