With injuries to Pasig Chooks-to-Go’s imports, Dylan Ababou looks to gut it out with Pasig Chooks-to-Go in the 2019 FIBA 3X3 Kunshan Challenger on Saturday.
“Actually, masaya talaga ako dahil makakasama na ako uli,” said Ababou before leaving for China, Thursday evening.
However, the 6-foot-3 swingman has yet to fully recover from his injury.
Last March 31, Ababou suffered a strained right calf during Pasig’s semifinals tilt against the Pasay Voyagers during the Grand Finals of the 2019 Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas 3×3 President’s Cup.
This injury made Ababou miss the Asia Pacific Super Quest and the FIBA 3X3 World Tour Doha Masters.
Without the veteran presence of the ex-PBA pro, Pasig finished in third place during the Super Quest and fourth in the Doha Masters.
Though still not a hundred-percent, Ababou is willing to do whatever it takes to lead the young core of Joshua Munzon, Taylor Statham, and Troy Rike.
“Focus ko lang eh, makatulong sa team, pa’no kami maglalaro smarter. Kumbaga focus ko pa’no kami magiging in one page,” shared the 32-year-old.
“Mindset namin one possession at a time. Adjust lang ng adjust, improve lang ng improve. Tsaka yun nga, play smart,” he continued.
“Magiging leader ako dun sa loob na di ko nagawa dahil di ako nakasama sa Qatar.”
Ababou and Pasig will face Russian club Sosnovy first at 5:55 pm, before taking on a familiar foe in Liman of Serbia at 7:40 pm. Pasig defeated the then-top team in the world during the Doha Masters, 19-16.
Though they won’t have imports Nikola Pavlovic and Angelo Tsagarakis this time around, Pasig is looking to replicate their success against the Serbians.
“Alam na namin kung ano yung mga strengths and weaknesses nila so added factor yun,” Ababou opined. “Pero siyempre, kailangan namin mas maganda ipakita kesa ipinakita sa Qatar kasi improvement tayo lagi, learning tayo lagi.
“Kailangan pataas ng pataas, build up ng build up.”
Games will be shown live over at FIBA 3X3’s Youtube Channel.
