The 3x3 Philippine squad Manila Chooks ™ hopes to make strong showing as they compete in the FIBA 3x3 World Tour Abu Dhabi Masters.
Pilipinas 3x3 squad Manila Chooks ™ is to take on a heavy task against powerhouse rivals in the FIBA 3x3 World Tour Abu Dhabi Masters starting today.
Chico Lanete, Mac Tallo, Zach Huang and Mark Yee make up the squad with former NCAA import Mike Nzeusseu as a reserve player.
The same team, excluding Yee, won for Manila HeiHei the Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas 3x3 Invitational title last week.
The Cameroonian big man Nzeusseu unfortunately suffered a minor left hand fracture during their game against Cebu in the Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas 3x3 invitational last October 20.
This led the team to replace him with Yee, and come as the reserve player.
“Nakikita ko si Mike nung naglalaro siya sa Lyceum. And sabi ko nga I’m thankful na hindi ko siya inabot doon noong nasa NC pa kami,” said Manila Chooks head coach and trainer Aldin Ayo about Nzeusseu, who is making his FIBA 3×3 debut.
“Nandoon sa kanya ‘yung materials na pwede mo talaga gamitin sa 3×3. He’s big, he’s agile, he’s an athlete, he’s skilled.”
The 4-man team is grouped under Pool D with powerhouse Liman of Serbia and Amsterdam Talent and Pro of the Netherlands.
They will be facing Serbia today at 10:20 PM (Manila time), andthen face Amsterdam at 2:45 AM (October 30 in Manila).
In this competition, only the top two teams from each pool will advance to the knockout rounds.
The Manila squad is hoping for a longer run after failing to make it through the qualifying rounds in the Doha and Montreal Masters where they placed 11th.
The other teams competing in the Abu Dhabi Masters are Pool A - Serbia, Puerto Rico, and Russia, Pool B - Latvia, Saudi Arabia, and Mongolia, Pool C - Belgium, USA and the winner of the draw between Japan, Netherland, and host Abu Dhabi.
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