MANILA, Philippines (AP) – This weekend, Cebu will host a world-class basketball event, the Fiba 3×3 World Tour Cebu Masters 2022, which will take place at SM Seaside on Saturday.
The two-day FIBA 3×3 World Tour Cebu, max level tournament will feature fourteen teams, including two from the Philippines, with $40,000 on the line for the winning team.
“We’re presenting Cebu’s biggest basketball event.” “We’re only focusing on the Olympic Qualifying Tournament,” Chooks-to-Go President Ronald Mascarias stated at the event’s press conference at the Radisson Blu.
“Hopefully, with God’s help, the Philippines would be able to play in Paris,” he added.
FIBA 3×3 World Tour Cebu Chooks will compete in Pool A alongside Antwerp and Omaha.
Pool B FIBA 3×3 World Tour Cebu will feature Riga, Utsonomiya Brex, and Sansar MMC energy, while Pool C will have Saitama, Jeddah, and Amsterdam, the 2022 Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas International Quest champions.
Manila Chooks, Ludhiana, and Doha will compete in the Qualifying Draw (QD). The winners of QD will advance to Pool D, where they will compete against Ulaanbaatar MMC Energy and Lausanne.
Chico Lanete, head trainer of Manila FIBA 3×3 World Tour Cebu, advised his players to focus on the game and not on rankings and the like.
“I told the players, don’t think of them as stronger; think of us as equals,” he remarked.
FIBA 3×3 World Tour Cebu Schedule:
FIBA 3×3 World Tour Cebu How to watch:
The action FIBA 3×3 World Tour Cebu will be streamed live on the FIBA 3×3 YouTube, Facebook, Sina Weibo, and Douyin pages from October 1-2.
Broadcasting: fuboTV and Paramount+ (try it free)
In FIBA 3×3 World Tour Cebu, who is competing?
Antwerp, Riga, Amsterdam HiPRO, Ulaanbaatar MMC Energy, Lausanne Sport, Jeddah, Sansar MMC Energy, Omaha 3Ball, Cebu Chooks, Utsunomiya BREX, Saitama ALPHAS, Manila Chooks, Doha QSC, Ludhiani INBL are seven of the top 15 teams in the international rankings.
What are the pools FIBA 3×3 World Tour Cebu?
Who are the famous in FIBA 3×3 World Tour Cebu?
It’s a close race at the top, but we have to start with FIBA 3×3 World Tour Cebu legends Riga (LAT), who have regrouped and are back collecting Ws after winning in Montreal. Life was difficult without superstar Karlis Lasmanis, but his return has brought together four Olympic gold medalists who enjoy nothing more than competing and collecting medals.
The Latvians will be difficult to beat, but they may have to overcome No.1 seed Antwerp (BEL), who have a World Tour monkey off their back after winning in Debrecen but falling short in Utrecht.
The Belgians are looking for a turnaround in the Philippines after a disappointing Day One exit, but you’d expect them to make apologies in order to show the boisterous Filipino supporters what they’re made of.
No.3 seed Amsterdam HiPRO (NED) should be considered a favorite because these flying Dutchmen are constantly making deep runs.
They’ll be more motivated after struggling to fire in Utrecht, the Netherlands’ maiden World Tour tournament. Perhaps they became too engrossed in the buzz and the pressure became too much for them, but a more relaxed Amsterdam will be dangerous for opponents.
There will be many teams in Cebu who believe they can go all the way. In other words, there are a lot of clubs that are perhaps just below the elite tier of the top three, but they would not be surprised if they won it all.
Rising American team Omaha 3Ball (USA), and Mongolian teams Ulaanbaatar MMC Energy and Sansar MMC Energy, who both like playing in the Philippines and should benefit from a less arduous travel journey from home. Jeddah (KSA) and Lausanne Sport (SUI) are further examples.
If you want dark horses, we’ll offer you a couple of local heroes. Cebu Chooks and Manila Chooks will, of course, have crazy fan support, which might fuel a giant-killing run, though Manila must first qualify.
FIBA 3×3 World Tour Cebu Preview:
City of CEBU — With the famous FIBA 3×3 World Tour Cebu Masters 2022 due to take place from October 1-2 at the SM Seaside here, the Queen City of the South will finally get to enjoy one of the biggest international basketball events.
The city has never held a FIBA-level event until Chooks-to-Go, which sponsors the Filipino 3×3 teams on the professional circuit, decided to bring a World Tour leg to the same location where its 3×3 program was developed three years ago, with the help of The Sisters of Mary School.
“We are delivering Cebu the biggest basketball tournament,” Chooks-to-Go President Ronald Mascarias stated during the event news conference on Thursday at the Radisson Blu.
Back in January 2019, Chooks, along with The Sisters of Mary School Girlstown and Boystown, set a FIBA world record for the most youngsters playing in a 3×3 game and the largest number of simultaneous U18 games played, with 1,656 girls and 1,380 boys taking part in the two-day event.
“We are here today to pay tribute to The Sisters of Mary School Girlstown and Boystown,” Mascarias remarked, flanked by Sisters of Mary Boystown’s Sr. Esterlita Capia, SM and Sisters of Mary Girlstown’s Sr. Laresa Morasa, SM.
“Bong puso nila tayong tinanggap noong 2019, when we launched the Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas 3×3 program.”
Bounty Agro Ventures, Inc.’s famed chicken brand has since become synonymous with 3×3, with all of its efforts geared not just on helping the game grow locally, but also on helping the Philippines climb points in the FIBA 3×3.
“Our entire team is leaning toward qualifying for the Olympic Qualifying Tournament.” “Sana, kung palarin tayo, makalaro ang Pilipinas sa Paris Olympics,” Mascarias continued.
FIBA 3×3 World Tour Cebu Masters brings the best in three worlds :
The upcoming festivities of FIBA 3×3 World Tour Cebu in Cebu will undoubtedly be memorable, with the world’s greatest halfcourt competitors ready to compete in a two-day, max-level tournament where the champion will get USD 40,000.
Fourteen teams will compete in FIBA 3×3 World Tour Cebu, with hometown favorites Cebu Chooks and Manila Chooks vying for another Pro Circuit crown, as the former did by winning the Chooks-to-Go FIBA 3×3 Asia Pacific Super Quest last April.
Mac Tallo, Cebu’s proud son, is embracing the pressure as he performs in front of his fellow Cebuanos for the first time as a pro.
“I’d want to express my gratitude to Boss Ronald and the Chooks.” “Because of you, I get to represent the country and I get to play in my hometown,” the country’s top-ranked 3×3 player said.
Tallo is joined in Cebu by Brandon Ramirez, Zach Huang, and Mike Harry Nzeusseu, who is in Pool A with Antwerp and Omaha.
Meanwhile, Manila will be headed by Chooks 3×3 head trainer Chico Lanete, with Dennis Santos, Henry Iloka, and newcomer Dave Ando assisting him in their effort to top the qualifying draw and complete the main 12-team cast.
Lanete, 43, understands that it is easier said than done, given that their QD opponents are no pushovers in Ludhiana and Doha, but he is undeterred.
“All of them are pure malalakas and top-ranked.” However, he told the players, “wag nating isipin na malalakas sila, pantay lang.”
The winning team at the end of the QD will compete in Pool D against Ulaanbaatar MMC Energy and Lausanne.
Pool B FIBA 3×3 World Tour Cebu is made up of Riga, Utsonomiya Brex, and Sansar MMC energy, while Pool C is made up of the 2022 Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas International Quest champions Saitama, Jeddah, and Amsterdam.
FIBA 3×3 World Tour Cebu Masters 2022 Top Stars to watch:
The FIBA 3×3 World Tour Cebu Masers is being held in CEBU, Philippines. Your 2022 is back in the hoops-crazy Philippines, and you know things are going to get crazy at the first-ever Cebu Masters on October 1-2.
After the Manila Masters in May, where fans created more noise than the country’s famous jeepneys in heavy traffic, the bar has been raised.
Let’s take a look at 10 players you absolutely must watch FIBA 3×3 World Tour Cebu.
- Mark Tallo (Cebu Chooks)
In Manila, the Philippines’ No. 1 player did everything. Ankle sprain? Check. What, no look dimes? Check. Crazy clutch shots? Check. Blow the Ayala Mall’s roof off? Almost.
Mark Tallo is a natural-born entertainer; you can bet he rules karaoke night. You also know the 28-year-old is eager to perform in his hometown as the local hero’s ambition of performing on the World Tour in front of family and friends comes true.
We’re not sure how far he can take Cebu, but Mark Tallo will almost surely be one of our top plays of the tournament.
- Iloka, Henry (Manila Chooks)
This 6ft 10in (2.08m), 110kg/243lb beast may be the strongest and most physically scary person on the planet. He can flex like a professional bodybuilder, but Henry Iloka likes to flex on the half-court, where he can dominate on both offense and defense.
Don’t get in his way because this Manila Chooks warrior enjoys nothing more than packing the rim. But Iloka is more than just a tough dunker; if you’re not careful, he’ll have a personal block party.
- Thibaut Vervoort (Antwerp)
As Antwerp prepared to go back-to-back on the World Tour, ‘Must See TV’ was muted in Utrecht. However, you can bet that the Debrecen MVP will be firing on all cylinders and will once again be the hottest show on television.
The 24-year-old will be hoping to make apologies for Antwerp’s worst ever World Tour performance, which saw them eliminated on Day 1 in Manila. The 6ft. 5in (1.97m) man missed out on the opportunity to thrill the raucous Filipino crowd back then and will be eager to show off his full arsenal, where he may be the most complete player in 3×3.
We are optimistic that Antwerp will not be eliminated early in Cebu. Thibaut Vervoort will make certain that this does not happen.
- Nauris Miezis/Karlis Lasmanis (Riga)
3×3’s most famous superhero duo has reunited and is having fun kapow’!’ ing on opponents. In Montreal, Lasmanis, called ‘Batman,’ went nananana to win MVP in a return to 3×3 where he didn’t miss a beat.
Miezis is the best hooping ‘Robin’ we’ve ever seen, but he can simply transition to the lead superhero whenever he wants. This fascinating combination was performed during the FIBA 3×3 World Cup 2018 in the Philippines, but it’s been a long time and this duo wants to offer something special for the fans.
We don’t know what they have in store for us, but history says it will be noteworthy.
- Van der Horst, Dimeo (Amsterdam HiPRO)
‘Dimes’ has been a man on a mission in 2022, averaging a remarkable 7.5ppg – the most by any player with 10+ World Tour games.
The 31-year-old has been in hyper-aggressive mode, driving to the limit like he’s in a Ferrari. He’s got all the moves, and when his two pieces pop, it’s game over.
However, team success has been more difficult to come through for Amsterdam on the World Tour, where they have yet to make the final this season. Dimeo van der Horst has already given a lot, but if he can find another gear, Amsterdam could ultimately breakthrough in 2022.
- Enkhbat Dulguun (Ulaanbaatar MMC Energy)
The man with the perfect hair may appear to be a Calvin Klein spokesman, but this gentleman is all blue-collar on defense, where he can give opponents nightmares.
For some time, the 30-year-old has been a power and a member of Mongolia’s greatest team, which has helped fuel 3×3’s tremendous popularity in the landlocked East Asian country. However, the ultimate World Tour triumph has eluded Mongolians who believed that 2022 would be their year.
They’ve been flying all over the world in search of the W, but perhaps their time has come in Cebu. You can bet Dulguun Enkhbat will give it his all.
- Sansar MMC Energy’s Anand Ariunbold
Something about Filipino soil agrees with Anand Ariunbold, who was an incredible flame thrower in Manila, scoring 30 points in four games to lead Sansar to their best-ever semi-finals performance.
The 25-year-old is no longer a fantastic prospect; he’s the genuine deal, capable of torching opponents. Ariunbold may be lanky, but he can twist his body around to lethal effect and defy opponents’ outstretched arms to score the most absurd buckets. Simply wait and see in Cebu.
- Hluchoweckyj, Malik (Omaha 3Ball)
Malik Hluchoweckyj, the human highlight machine, is spearheading the charge for these new American sensations.
The soon-to-be 26-year-old will be searching for an early Christmas present in Cebu, and all of his gifts may come at once if he can end the World Tour’s three-year drought for American teams.
Hluchoweckyj, who is 6ft 1in (1.85m), is electric with the Wilson and can also pour in buckets to produce a lethal one-two punch with Dylan Travis.
The Quebec Challenger MVP took his success to the World Tour with a stunning performance in Montreal, where he finished second in highlights and led Omaha to the semis.
We can’t wait to see what new tricks he pulls on Mark Tallo in Cebu in a Day One fireworks.
- Yosuke Saito (Utsunomiya BREX)
Saito, one of the best Japanese 3×3 players of all time, continues to improve and is eager to build on an impressive season on the pro circuit.
At 6ft (1.83m), he’s not the tallest guy around, but don’t let that deceive you since Saito can become hotter than wasabi from outside the arc and display his considerable skills in Cebu.
- Tomoya Ochiai (Saitama ALPHAS)
When it comes to sick Japanese players, we can’t forget about the OG himself, Tomoya Ochiai, who recently become a Maurice Lacroix brand ambassador. No one can match the cunning 6ft 5in (1.95m) Ochiai aka ‘Worm’.
Because of his magical abilities, when he has the Wilson, he can achieve the impossible and slow down the game. Saitama may be the underdogs in Cebu, but no team with Tomoya Ochiai can be written off.
