Tokyo Dime claims Chooks-to-Go Super Quest

Tomoya Ochiai screams in delight during the final

19th-ranked Tokyo Dime.Exe claimed the first-ever Chooks-to-Go 3x3 Asia Pacific Super Quest last Sunday, dispatching 1Bataan in dramatic fashion, 22-20, at the Fashion Hall of SM Megamall.

Masahiro Komatsu nailed the game-winning two-pointer with 33 seconds left over the outstretched arms of Leonard Santillan, completing the comeback after trailing 18-13 with over two and a half minutes remaining.

The Risers managed to reach the Hill first at 20-18 with eighty seconds left on an Alvin Pasaol bucket, but that was the last point the Chooks Pilipinas 3x3 runners-up would score.

Petar Perunovic halved the deficit on a drive with under a minute remaining, which was then followed by a costly delay of game technical foul on Santillan. Kenta Suzuki would make the free throw to tie the game at 20, setting things up for Komatsu's dramatics.

When asked about the final, Tomoya Ochiai says, "Good fight. It was a physical game, a tough game and I like it. Filipino guys are very tough." The top-ranked Japanese player in the 3x3 basketball scored six points in the final, with new acquisition Perunovic also scoring that much. Both Komatsu and Suzuki each contributed five points to reflect their balanced scoring.

As for Santillan, he rues the mistakes that cost 1Bataan the championship, but his teammates were encouraging him by sharing positive thoughts.

Considered as one of the favorites to claim the championship, Tokyo Dime.Exe kickstarted their afternoon with a 22-9 win over Aotearoa in the quarterfinals, then followed that with a 16-11 victory over Chooks Pilipinas 3x3 champions Pasig Grindhouse in the semifinals. By clinching the title, they earned $50,000 and berths in the 2019 FIBA 3x3 World Tour Masters in Doha on April 18-19 and the Penang leg of FIBA 3x3 Challenger on May 12-13.

1Bataan's road to the final on Sunday started with a 21-15 win over SSLC, and then followed by a 21-18 win over Jakarta West Bandits in the semifinals. The Indonesian side had the stunning result of the day with their 20-19 victory over 15th-ranked Ulaanbaatar in the quarterfinals. By making it to the finals, the Risers secured a berth into the Doha Masters, joining Pasig-Grindhouse as the only Filipino clubs to earn qualification. They also receive $15,000.

As for the Kings, their third place finish nets them $7,000, as well as a spot in the Kunshan leg of FIBA 3x3 Challenger on May 18-19. The West Bandits also snag a spot in Kunshan, as well as $4,000 by finishing fourth.

By virtue of making the quarterfinals, Ulaanbaatar, Aotearoa, SSLC, and TSV Reading Cinemas each get $1,000.