Experience and a winning culture are some things that the San Juan-Go For Gold Knights will bring to the table once the Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas 3×3 President’s Cup kicks off at the Megamall Event Center this Saturday.
PBA Champions Mac Cardona, John Wilson, and Larry Rodriguez will lead the squad, which also boasts of some of the best young talents in Larry Muyang, Mike Ayonayon, and Cedric Pelayo.
Despite rolling in the big names, expectations are still kept at a minimum for the Knights, since they are still in the period of adjustment.
“It’s a learning experience kasi for them with the different rules, different ball, and faster pace. With the pre-season outcome, tingin ko medyo maganda yung magiging result sa amin,” said team governor Chris Conwi.
“Pumped up talaga sila Mac (Cardona), John Wilson. Ganado sila lagi sa practices. Even sa three-point shootout and slam dunk, talagang pinaghahandaan nila. Excited sila.”
Conwi insists that he is putting no pressure on his team despite fielding one of the most loaded lineups in the tournament.
“Actually kami, enjoy lang kami. Whatever result, they just want to enjoy the game. Hirap din kasi ma-pressure especially yung lineup namin na puro ex-pros nga.”
They’ll also be bringing the winning culture of the Knights, which dates back to the days in the MBA when they were one of the most prominent squads in the national tournament.
That alone is enough motivation to push the players as they aim to keep tradition when they enter the first and only 3×3 tournament in the country.
“With the Chooks 3×3, alam naman natin na mayabang yung San Juan. Gusto nila lagi nasa top, especially sa basketball. Hopefully, we can play our best at mapakita namin yung best namin,” continued Conwi.
“If healthy yung team namin, we are confident that we can get something from this Chooks tournament.”
The Knights are bracketed in Group A alongside the Valenzuela Classic and the Zamboanga Valientes. The top teams of the four groups will advance to the knockout stage of the first leg of the tournament.
