The Valenzuela Classic are out to prove a point when they step onto the hardcourt of the Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas 3×3.
“We are out to prove that we are the basketball capital of the Philippines,” declared team owner Voltaire Ora.
With this goal, the Classic did not hold back with their lineup for the President’s Cup, the first conference of the country’s first 3×3 basketball league.
Need size? They have 6-foot-9 Mac Andaya. Need veteran leadership? They have second-generation cager Paulo Hubalde.
“Mas pisikal yung three-on-three, more on one-on-one moves. Siyempre, kailangan may malaki kang kasama, kaya kinuha namin si Big Mac,” shared Hubalde.
“Lahat naman kami nagsimula sa kalye, kaya yung three-on-three gives us memories. Kaya alam namin kung ano gagawin,” added Andaya.
Valenzuela also have a sniper in Chris de Chavez, a slasher in Jan Jamon, a workhorse in Jaymar Gimpayan, and a bruiser in Carlo de Chavez.
Though they have a well-rounded line-up, Chris de Chavez shared that it’ll take a lot of hard work for them to rack up victories over the stacked field.
“This is different because we are playing a lot more talented players. So this is going to be a lot more difficult but a lot more challenging,” shared the former Ateneo Blue Eagle, as they are grouped together with San Juan and Zamboanga on opening day.
But besides winning and proving a point, the Classic are out there to inspire the next generation of ballers.
“We want these guys to be an inspiration to the young kids here,” Ora expressed.
