Balanga, Basilan tapped for Haining Challenger

The Chooks World Tour has two new playdates.

In its quest to secure enough points to finish among the top 24 nations in the men's division to earn a spot in the Olympic Qualifying Tournament, Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas 3x3 will be fielding three teams into two upcoming FIBA 3x3 World Tour Challenger events.

With the assistance of the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas, the league is set to field Wilkins-Balanga (as Balanga Chooks) and Phenom-Basilan Steel-CTC Construction (as Isabela City Chooks) for the 2019 Hongxiang Holding Group Haining Challenger this coming weekend.

League owner Ronald Mascariñas shares, "We were only invited to the tournament with just one-week notice. But we need to join this tournament to continue to gather more points for the country." He also is grateful towards the SBP for their assistance in enabling this participation.

Chooks 3x3 commissioner Eric Altamirano adds, "Rest assured that the teams are preparing hard and will give their best in representing the country"

Representing the SBP, Director of Operations Butch Antonio expressed support on behalf of the federation to Chooks 3x3's effort in going for the spot in Olympic Qualifying. Antonio led a delegation that included ten Regional Directors, current Academy head for Coaches and Tournaments Jong Uichico, and Special Assistant to the President Ryan Gregorio.

Serving as the qualifier for the Montreal Masters, the Level-9 Challenger features a two-phase tournament, with a qualifying element slated in the morning before the tournament proper in the afternoon.

Whilst Balanga has already secured a spot in the main draw in Pool A alongside top seed Liman and Sosnovy Bor CopRosatom, Isabela City will have to earn their way into Pool C. To join Gagarin and Moscow Inanomo, the Steel will have fend off a couple of Mongolian sides in Sukhbaatar and Taikhar ARA ADM.

Pool B features Princeton, Ulaanbaatar, and Chongming, while Pool D features Zemun, Beijing, and one of Shanghai SSLC, Hangzhou Ashley, and HaiNing.

For Basilan, this is their first foray into international basketball. Team manager Jackson Chua notes, "Kami ng Chooks-to-Go, pareho yung mission namin which is to represent our country well. Yung local government namin ay in full support for this team because we want to change the image of Basilan."

The Steel will be fielding Roosevelt Adams, Franky Johnson, Marcus Hammonds, and guest player Gab Banal. Last season's Most Valuable Player in the MPBL is a replacement for Troy Rike, who is registered under Pasig Chooks in the FIBA 3x3 circuit this season. They are looking to keep their momentum from making the finals of both Patriots' Cup legs onto the international stage.

Balanga, on the other hand, will rely on the quartet of Alvin Pasaol, Karl Dehesa, Chris De Chavez, and Travis Franklin.

Chooks Pilipinas 3x3 champions Gold's Gym-Pasig were also present, with their impending participation at the Poitiers Challenger next week already scheduled.