Manila Chooks split into two for Chooks Pilipinas Invitational

Henry Iloka is back for some Chooks 3x3.

Manila Chooks will be split into two teams for the special Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas Invitational powered by TM, with the revelation of the participating players for the one-day event.

Half of the quartet who played in the Montreal Masters last month will be playing for HeiHei Manila, while the other half will represent Bocaue in the tourney that takes place the Laus Events Center in San Fernando, Pampanga.

Playing for the former is Zach Huang and Mac Tallo, while the latter fields Mark Yee and Dennis Santos. 

Key Manila Chooks cog Chico Lanete will also be part of the Manila quartet, joined by Lyceum standout Mike Nzeusseu, who is one of seven former foreign student-athletes set to play.

Two of those seven have had a previous stint in Chooks Pilipinas 3x3, including Chibueze Ikeh, who is joining Ronjay Buenafe, Paul Sanga, and Donald Gumaru for Essen Immunoboost Sarangani, as well as Frederick Elombi, set to join ARQ Builders Cebu alongside fellow Cameroonian Landry Sanjo, and noted CESAFI standouts Monbert Arong and Ralph Dinolan.

The other foreign reinforcements are Hamadou Laminou for BRT Sumisip-Basilan, Henry Iloka for RBR Cabiao-Nueva Ecija, and Eugene Toba for the Pasig Kingpins.

About having these foreigners in the invitational, league owner Ronald Mascariñas shares, "We opened up the one-day Invitational tournament that we have to imports for the sole reason that these former student-athletes have not played for such a long time and have been stranded in our country since the pandemic."

He adds, "This will also help our local players in adjusting to the global FIBA 3x3 game as there are a lot of skilled 6-foot-6 and above players in those competitions."

As for Bocaue, Ralph Tansingco and Jayvee Marcelino complete their quartet.

Joining Laminou in Sumisip are Junjie Hallare, Shaq Alanes, and Darwin Lunor; Cabiao has Ian Dela Torre, Ichie Altamirano, and King Importante alongside Iloka, with Pasig tagging Toba with the Monteclaro brothers Ryan and Nikki alongside Jaypee Belencion.

The other participating teams are as follows:

Zamboanga Valientes MLV continue their commitment to Chooks 3x3 with its homegrown core of Paulino Rebollos, David Sebastian, Gino Jumao-as, and Alex Mohammad.

Pacquiao Coffee Bacolod fields JK Casino, Cyrus Tabi, Joseph Eriobu, and Jayjay Manlangit.

Adam Esli Pasay has Jan Jamon, Elvin Chan, Jerome Pasia, and Agosto Flor.

AMACOR Mandaluyong has Michael Macaballug, Janus Lozada, Martin Gozum, and Marvin Hayes.

MNL Kingpin Quezon City has Jerome Garcia, Mon Mabayo, John Amboludto, and Joseph Peñaredondo.

The champion of this invitational will take home P100,000. Second and third place finishers will bank P50,000 and P20,000, respectively.

This one-day tournament that is endorsed by FIBA 3x3, regulated by the Games and Amusements Board, and supported by Gatorade will air on the Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas' Facebook page and on FIBA 3x3's Youtube channel.