Pasig Chooks-to-Go could not sustain their strong start against Russian club Sosnovy Bor, falling 19-21 with 1:28 left in the game, to open their campaign in the 2019 FIBA 3X3 Kunshan Challenger in China.
With the loss, Pasig need to win their game against Serbian powerhouse Liman to create a three-way tie in Pool A. The Doha Masters rematch between Pasig and Liman takes place at 7:40 pm.
Earlier in the day, Liman defeated Sosnovy Bor, 22-18.
It was a crushing loss for the Filipinos, as Pasig held a 17-15 lead with just two minutes left in the game.
However, Taylor Statham and Pasig were plagued with fouls all game long.
With 2:09 left, Statham fouled Artem Timofeev, who knocked down the bucket as well as an and-one to knot the game. But Timofeev was not done yet, as he knocked down a deuce for the Russians’ first lead of the game.
Though Joshua Munzon was able to tie things up with a two of his own, Vladislav Meleshkin’s deuce ended the contest.
Munzon led the way for Pasig with 10 points built on three dueces. Statham added six points and six boards.
Timofeev had seven points for Russia. Meanwhile, Meleshkin and Vladimir Bazylev each had six markers each.
The Scores:
Pasig 19 – Munzon 10, Statham 6, Ababou 3, Rike 0.
Sosnovy Bor 21 – Timofeev 7, Meleshkin 6, Bazylev 6, Shangichev 2.
