Gilas 3x3 earn FIBA 3x3 U23 World Cup berth

c/o Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas

Gilas Pilipinas 3x3 Men capped off a remarkable campaign in the 2026 FIBA 3x3 Nations League Asia 2 competitions by securing a berth in the 2026 FIBA 3x3 U23 World Cup after a dominant run in Petaling Jaya, Malaysia.

Competing against fellow Under-21 teams from Japan, New Zealand, Belarus, Singapore, and Malaysia, the Philippines reached the finals in five of the six stops, winning three en route to the first-place finish.

Gilas started their campaign with back-to-back wins, but they suffered a tight loss to Belarus in the Stop 1 Finals. After missing out on a podium finish for Stop 2, Gilas bounced back big time by beating Japan to win Stop 3. The young Filipino ballers made sure there was no doubt about who the best team was as they defeated New Zealand and Japan to win Stops 4 and 5 via game-winning two-point baskets.

The Philippines finished with 520 points in the tournament, 50 points clear of second-place Japan, to earn a spot in the FIBA 3x3 U23 World Cup, marking another significant milestone for the SBP’s rapidly growing 3x3 program.

SBP Executive Director Erika Dy emphasized that the accomplishment reflects the federation's continued investment in the 3x3 discipline and the willingness of stakeholders across Philippine basketball to work together in developing national teams.

“Earlier this year, our Gilas Pilipinas 3x3 Women ended an eight-year drought to make it back to the FIBA 3x3 World Cup. Now Gilas Pilipinas 3x3 Men will also end their own eight-year drought to make it back to the FIBA 3x3 U23 World Cup,” said Dy. “This achievement is further proof that Filipinos are world-class not just in basketball but also in 3x3. With the support of our sponsors and the commitment of stakeholders, the SBP will continue to put our athletes in positions to succeed.”

Back in 2018, the group composed of RJ Abarrientos, Ricci Rivero, Rhayyan Amsali, and Jeepy Faundo finished with a 2-2 record in the pool stage to finish ninth overall out of 20 teams.

"On behalf of the SBP 3x3 program, I would like to extend our deepest gratitude to the schools, coaches, and team officials who supported Gilas Pilipinas 3x3 by allowing their players to represent the country,” added Gilas Pilipinas 3x3 Program Director Ryan Gregorio.

“We are especially thankful to FEU Athletic Director Mark Molina and Coach Sean Chambers, who deliberately rescheduled their team’s USA training so that Cabs Cabonilas and Jedric Daa could compete in this tournament. Our sincere appreciation also goes to Boss Alfrancis Chua and Coach Pido Jarencio for generously loaning UST big man Koji Buenaflor, to Adamson head coach Nash Racela for immediately allowing Earl Medina to join the national team, and to team manager Jude Roque and Coach Yuri Escueta for permitting Jhun Dela Rama to represent Gilas even while he is in residency. Their trust, cooperation, and shared commitment to Philippine basketball embody the spirit of ‘one team, one country.’ We truly appreciate their invaluable support.”

Program partner Metro Pacific Tollways Corporation and NLEX also lauded the team's achievement, highlighting the value of supporting the country's rising basketball talents on the international stage.

“We at MPTC and NLEX send our congratulations to the Gilas 3x3 Men after their successful campaign in Malaysia,” said NLEX Governor Ronald Dulatre. “We’re happy to support the SBP’s 3x3 Program from the youth teams all the way to the elite because the goal remains to be an Olympic slot for the Philippines, and investing in our young talent will pay more dividends in the future.”

With a place in the FIBA 3x3 U23 World Cup now secured, Gilas Pilipinas turns its attention toward competing against the world's best from September 15–19 in Wuhan, China, and continuing the country’s upward trajectory in international 3x3 basketball.

Romeo, Tallo anchor Manila Melmac in upcoming FIBA 3x3 Manila Challenger

From left to right: Mac Tallo, coach Chico Lanete, SBP executive director Erika Dy, Terrence Romeo, and Henry Iloka

Terrence Romeo and Mac Tallo, two of the country's most prolific scorers, playing in one team?

It's happening—and for good reason.

Propped up by their desire to carry the country’s tri-colors, Romeo and Tallo banner the Manila Melmac 3x3 squad seeing action in the FIBA 3x3 Manila Challenger set for Sept. 20 to 21 at the Ayala Malls Manila Bay in Parañaque.

Despite the enormous pressure and challenge to deliver in front of an expected big Filipino hometown crowd, Romeo and his teammates are unfazed.

“Kapag may expectation sa amin, that's a good sign. Ibig sabihin, ang fans sa mga player na iyon, alam nila ang capabilities na kaya nilang gawin. Ako, si Mac, si Henry, si Abdul, we know what we can do,” the flashy 5-foot-11 guard said. “Alam namin na kaya namin na mag-compete and at the same time, excited kasi ako, personally, ang tagal ko na hindi nakapaglaro ng 3x3 so excited ako na makatulong sa team natin ngayon and ang main goal is to compete.

“So, expectations are always there, pero ang main goal namin is mag-compete and manalo. So, kahit saan namin tingnan, lahat ito, going to the game is okay, masarap pakinggan pero iyong main focus namin is iyong game itself, kung ano iyong gagawin namin,” he added.

Romeo, who is making his return to the halfcourt game after a 10-year hiatus, and Tallo, the former No. 1 3x3 player in the Philippines, will be joined in the Chico Lanete-mentored quartet by Abdul Sawat and hulking 6-foot-10 big man Henry Iloka.

The former Far Eastern University standout and UAAP MVP steered Manila West to a title triumph in the 2014 FIBA 3x3 World Tour Manila Masters.

Manila Melmac opens its campaign against China’s Chongming, a team spearheaded by Latvia's top 3x3 player Karlis Lasmanis, at 2:40 o’clock on Saturday before it battles Switzerland’s Lugano later in the night at 6:20 p.m.

The equally spitfire Tallo welcomed the addition of Romeo to the team with open arms.

“Sobrang saya kasi kumbaga parang isang threat, isang Mac Tallo iyong dumating. Sobrang daming weapons na ng team namin. May pagkakatiwalaan ka. Mas na-pressure ako kasi gusto ko lumevel up sa laro ni Terrence or more than that. So, iyon ang challenge sa akin ngayon,” Tallo said in jest that likewise drew a hearty laugh from Romeo, typifying the camaraderie they have.

“Sa tulong naman ni Terrence, tinutulungan niya ako mentally, physically, how to be prepared sa mga ganitong bagay. Natututo ako sa kanya para manalo.”

This early, Romeo expressed gratitude to the full support of the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas led by its executive director Erika Dy.

“Sobrang thankful ako kasi grabe iyong support nila, especially si ma’am ED. Ang laking boost sa kumpiyansa namin na alam namin na nandiyan sila sa likod namin no matter what,” he said.

“Pupunta kami sa game, malakas, mataas din ang kumpiyansa namin kasi maglalaro kami na ibibigay namin ang best namin and knowing na nandiyan iyong mga importanteng tao sa likod namin.”

Manila set for 3x3 return with FIBA Challenger

3x3 Manila Challenger

A spot in the FIBA 3x3 World Tour 2025 Season Macau Masters will be up for grabs as the Philippines plays hosts to the Manila Challenger on September 20 and 21 at the Ayala Malls Manila Bay.

Some of the world’s top 3x3 players will see action in Manila representing 16 teams including World Number 1 and 2 Strahinja Stojacic and Marko Brankovic, who will team up representing Ub of Serbia. They will be joined by Nenad Nerandzic and Nemanja Barac, no pushovers themselves as they are ranked 5th and 8th in the world.

“The Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) is elated to be given the opportunity to host this event,” said President Al Panlilio. 

“The SBP has hosted many 3x3 events in the past including the 2018 FIBA 3x3 World Cup and our fans are very familiar with the game so it should make for a great atmosphere. It’s an Olympic sport so we need to keep investing in 3x3 with the hopes of making it to that stage in the near future. Hosting the Manila Challenger helps in two ways because it allows our players and the federation to get much needed points for the rankings while also allowing our athletes to test themselves against the world’s best.”

The SBP has exerted efforts to bring this event closer to the Filipino people, giving them the opportunity to witness firsthand the best players in the world while also cheering for the Filipino teams proudly representing the country.

Two of the biggest names in the sport will also be seeing action in Karlis Lasmanis and Nauris Miezis, the 2020 Olympic gold medalists from Latvia. The two have done everything there is to accomplish in 3x3 and are now playing for China’s Chongming. The two 3x3 superstars will team up with China’s top two bets in Xiang Zhi Chao and Zhang Dian Lang.

The rest of the international field includes Ulaanbaatar (Mongolia), Hangzhou (China), Skyliners (Germany), Utrecht (Netherlands), Lugano (Switzerland), Taipei, Seef (Bahrain), Shanghai (China), SG Marina Bay (Singapore), Singapore, and East Jakarta (Indonesia).

“The SBP will be welcoming outstanding 3x3 players so that competition will be top level,” said Executive Director Erika Dy. “For the SBP, it’s an opportunity to show we’re more than capable in hosting a Challenger with the hopes of hosting a Masters level competition in the future. We’re excited to showcase our Filipino talents as well and see how well they can compete at this level.”

Three teams will represent the Philippines in Mandaluyong, Cavite, and Manila. Mandaluyong will be led by high-scoring guards Jeff Manday and Joseph Sedurifa while Mac Tallo is expected to make his long awaited return to FIBA 3x3 action for Manila.

This is supported by SBP's partners Smart, Arena Plus, B'lue Water, and the Philippine Sports Commission.

Terrence Romeo joins Manila Melmac in 3x3 return

Terrence Romeo gets away from Victor Nguidjol.

Terrence Romeo is returning to 3x3 basketball, joining Manila Melmac in the FIBA 3x3 Manila Challenger on September 20-21 at Ayala Malls Manila Bay in Parañaque.

The 5-foot-11 guard last saw action in the halfcourt game 10 years ago when he suited up for Manila West in the World Tour, also on home soil.

His comeback was made possible through the support of the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas, led by executive director Erika Dy, and Melmac Sports founder Mel Macasaquit.

“Unang-una, tumawag sa akin si Kuya Mel na kung puwede akong maglaro sa 3x3. Actually, two days, sa September 20 and 21, so sabi ko kay kuya Mel, kung para sa bayan maglalaro ako and hindi ko kailangan ng any offer or what basta para sa bayan, I'm available kapag kailangan ako,” Romeo said during the team’s practice in Mandaluyong on Wednesday.

“Sabi ko sa kanya, babalik din ako, kasi dahil sa pagkakaibigan namin. Actually, matagal kaming hindi nagkita ni kuya Mel pero iyong pagkakaibigan namin, laging nandoon. So, tumatanaw lang din ako ng utang na loob kay kuya Mel and isa rin siya sa kumbaga unang-unang nag-reach out sa akin kung puwede ba akong mag-comeback sa 3x3. Ten years ago na iyong last na laro ko sa 3x3 and excited ako ulit na maglaro para sa country natin."

Romeo will join forces with Mac Tallo, Abdul Sawat, and Henry Iloka, with Chico Lanete serving as head coach.

“Asahan ng fans na ibibigay ko iyong best ko,” Romeo said.

“Gagawin ko iyong best ko para makatulong sa team and hopefully, makuha namin iyong goal namin.” 

SBP forms alliance with Uratex Dream for FIBA Women’s Series debut of Gilas Women

c/o SBP

The Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas is taking a solid step to boost our chances in qualifying for 3x3 basketball in the Olympics.

The NSA has formalized a partnership with club side Uratex Dream in a move to help improve its FIBA 3x3 ranking.

SBP Executive Director Erika Dy shares, "Federation ranking is almost everything in the 3x3 universe. The more high-level events you join, the more points you earn."

She adds, "This partnership allows us to join up to 10 stops of the Women’s Series which could improve our ranking by more than 10 spots by the end of the season."

Unlike 5x5, 3x3 uses its rankings to help determine not just its Olympic participants, but also its field in its major national team competitions like the World Cup. Asian rival China, for instance, locked in its berth to Paris by November 2023 thanks to its ranking strength in both men and women.

Dy also notes that SBP President Al S. Panlilio has given his blessing towards this route to Los Angeles in 2028. "SBP president Al has always pushed for the growth of 3x3 as he firmly believes the Philippines should be competing at the Olympic level," she says.

Dream owner Peachy Medina is set to provide Gilas Women with financial and personnel resources. 

Anton Altamirano will collaborate with Dream coach Kat Quimpo on finding ways that the Philippines can maximize points on the scheduled Women's Series legs, with the 2024 edition having started already a few weeks ago in Springfield. Anton has experience navigating the FIBA 3x3 experience, having coached at the Challenger and 3x3 World Tour circuit.

He says about this partnership, "We are very thankful to the efforts of SBP headed by our executive director Ms Erika Dy and with the partnership of Uratex Dream; we are joining the Women’s series for the very first time."

Anton also adds, "This is a very good development and it will help us in boosting our federation rankings in our ultimate goal of the 2028 Olympics. Every step is important and this is definitely one of the first steps towards the main goal."

Women's basketball advocate Medina is very much thrilled to have this partnership. "I am very grateful to SBP for making this happen. This is indeed a giant leap for Philippine women’s basketball," she says.

Quimpo, on the other hand, is ecstatic about this development. The former Ateneo mentor says, "SBP's decision to join the FIBA WS is a testament of how invested the federation is in the development of women's basketball in the country and how far we have come to confidently compete against the world's best teams." 

There are eighteen more legs scheduled in the tour, with the next one coming at the end of the month in Marseille.

Set to be the initial pool of candidates for the WS Tour are Gilas Women stalwarts Camille Clarin, Mikka Cacho, and Angel Surada, with 3x3 standouts Hazelle Yam, Allana Lim, and Sam Harada. Completing the group is the top-ranked 3x3 Filipina in Kaye Pingol and Tantoy Ferrer, who is fresh from helping the University of Santo Tomas claim both 3x3 and 5x5 titles in the UAAP.

Gilas Women seeks strong finish at FIBA 3x3 Asia Cup

The Philippines seeks to secure a strong finish at the 2024 edition of the FIBA 3x3 Asia Cup on Sunday inside the Singapore Sports Hub.

Gilas Women has won all five of their assignments so far. They survived qualifying with victories over Tahiti (21-3), Maldives (19-11), and Kazakhstan (21-12) to earn a spot in pool play, where they took care of business against Mongolia and Malaysia.

Jhazmin Joson got hot from deep against the former, finishing up with eleven points anchored on four two-point buckets, in a 19-8 win.

Gilas Women scored the first five points of the match and never looked back, erecting a 10-3 lead with five minutes left, raising it to 17-7 after a Kaye Pingol two-pointer with 126 seconds left. A free throw from Joson capped the score for the Filipinas with thirteen seconds left.

As for the latter, they followed a similar playbook. They racked up a 5-1 lead on their way to a 17-10 triumph. This time, it was a balanced scoring effort. Joson still led the quartet with six points, but both Mikka Cacho and Pingol netted four each, with Clarin scoring the remaining three points. The National University standout also added six rebounds in the effort.

Although they misfired from deep against their ASEAN neighbors with their 1/7 performance behind the arc, Gilas Women made up for it with their effort inside, going 15/26. They also made it difficult for their opposition, forcing thirteen turnovers.

Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas program chief for 3x3 Eric Altamirano says about Gilas Women's success so far and what lies ahead, "We’re thrilled with our victories against the tough and experienced teams from Mongolia and Malaysia. Now, our focus shifts to Chinese Taipei, who put up a strong fight against China in the main draw. It’s time to maintain our focus and give it our all in the upcoming match in the quarterfinals."

Gilas Women assistant coach Mark Solano shares about the team getting extra motivation in their opening pool play matchup against Mongolia, "When we were preparing for our game vs the Mongolians, the (PH) ladies were all pumped up especially when they learned that there are two Olympians on that team. It added fuel to their fire. Kaya nung pag-check ball pa lang and we blazed into a 5-0 start, the ladies never looked back. Doon nagulat din ang Mongolia with our speed, toughness and yung pagiging pesky natin sa defense. Sobrang big factor din that we are making our 2-pt shots."

Solano adds, "During the Malaysia game, we knew them already kasi we had a lot of tune-ups with them when they went to Manila."

Things will now be different as they enter into the knockout rounds, with Chinese-Taipei as their quarterfinal opponent at 110pm. The team managed to extend China into overtime during pool play, falling short, 9-11, after leading by 8-6 late.

They did manage to earn their spot into the next round with an 18-8 victory over hosts Singapore.

Solano shares about that matchup, "As we prepare for Chinese Taipei, we told the ladies to just stick to what we are doing, the process of what we are doing. We’re going to have some adjustments kaya non-stop scouting kami ng mga coaches."

A chance to play two more games beckons for the winner of the quarterfinals matchup, with the winner of the matchup between Japan and New Zealand waiting in the wings later in the day.

Matches can be streamed through the FIBA 3x3 YouTube account, as well as through Pilipinas Live.

Final Rematch highlights Day 1 of Manila Hustle 3x3

Mikka Cacho, Monique del Carmen, Manila Hustle 3x3 tournament director Peachy Medina, Camille Clarin, and Tin Cayabyab.

Manila Hustle 3x3 is set to commence this weekend, starting off with Pool Play on Saturday at the SM Mall of Asia Music Hall.

One of the highlights of Day 1 sees last year's finalists grouped together in Pool C, as Gilas Pilipinas Women and Army Altama square off at 330pm to kickstart their respective stints.

As the Lady Macbeth Riots, they claimed the inaugural title behind the shoulders of eventual Most Valuable Player Kacey dela Rosa, 21-11.

This time around, Gilas Women will be fielding a brand new quartet, but chemistry will not be a problem with an all-National University crew of Mikka Cacho, Camille Clarin, Monique del Carmen, and Tin Cayabyab, as they build up a potential pool for future competitions.

Clarin shared during the pre-tournament press conference, "We're looking to build a good foundation based on players coming into the program and preparing for long-term tournaments."

Army still has Camille Sambile and Mar Prado backstopping their quartet, with Zoos Tokyo and Thai side Shoot It Dragons completing Pool C.

The lone returning player from the Riots has moved to another team, as Trina Guytingco leads Titans in Pool D. The Ateneo alumna is joined by fellow Blue Eagle Jhazmin Joson and a couple of foreign recruits in Supavadee "Bo" Kunchuan and Lina Nakazawa. Alongside them is the Kaye Pingol-led Uratex Dream, which has tapped Renzhu Li of China to help boost their campaign, last year's semifinalists Dinoman Hansol of Korea, and newcomers Royals Basketball from Australia.

Discovery Perlas banners Pool B, with a couple of former UAAP MVPs in Allana Lim and Grace Irebu serving as anchors. They are grouped alongside three debuting teams in Unicle from Korea, Owls.EXE from Japan, and Shiv Nadar School from India.

Kickstarting the action at 1030am is a couple of Pool A teams, with Tokyo Dime going up against Bluefire, which features La Salle women's basketball alumnae in Snow Penaranda and Ameng Torres. The other teams in Pool A are Jumpshot from Singapore and the second Uratex entrant in Tibay, which has enlisted Gilas Women standout Afril Bernardino and Spanish baller Ari Geli, who played for Zoos last year.

Opening Ceremonies for the two-day competition will take place at 10am, with all pool play matches slated at the venue on Saturday and the knockout rounds on Sunday.

The top team in each pool will advance straight to the quarterfinals, with the teams in second and third place will have to go through a last sixteen crossover knockout playoff to complete the field.

The champion gets $3,000 with the losing finalist snapping up $2,000 and the third place team $1,000.

Serving as partners for the Manila Hustle 3x3 presented by Uratex and SMART are the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (technical), SMART Sports and Puso Pilipinas (media), Seiko Prospex (timekeeper), and B'lue (hydration), with Titan, Wilson, Green Cross, Secret Fresh, BDO, Laurin CocoMCT, Peloton Workforce, Senka, Pinesbel Manufacturing, Tsubaki, IFern, Evercool Radiator, Home Suite Furniture, and Quality Corrugated Box Manufacturing, and Aquaflask as sponsors.

Fans will be able to watch the proceedings through the SMART Livestream app, as well as on the Facebook pages of Puso Pilipinas.

MCFASolver Tech Centrale set to bring Cebu experience onto PBA 3x3

The Cebu Masters proved to be positive experience for MCFASolver Tech Centrale squad.

Representing Lubao in the latest leg of the FIBA 3x3 World Tour and seeded twelfth in the field, they managed to top the qualifying round to kickstart the action inside the sprawling SM Seaside City Cebu.

They dispatched Taichung Hong Jia from Chinese-Taipei, 19-10, then followed that with a 17-11 victory over Auckland, to advance to the main draw.

Slotted in Pool D, they battled against eventual champion Miami, 15-22, and contested against Ulaanbaatar MMC Energy, 17-21, to finish tenth overall in the competition.

Having showcased their wares against some of the best in the world, the team was encouraged by their form.

TH Tumalip, the lone Filipino in the quartet, says about his experience, "Naipakita naming kaya namin makipagsabayan."

He adds, "Malaking bagay yung experience na nakuha namin, from practicing with some of the top 3x3 players hanggang sa exposure na nakuha namin paglaban sa mga top teams, madadala namin lahat yun papunta sa PBA 3x3."

Serving as his teammates for the 3x3 World Tour event are Jose Blasquez of Spain, who was on the team that secured them a spot in this competition, as well as former Lyceum big man Mike Harry Nzeusseu of Cameroon and Stanko Kujundzic of Croatia.

The Anton Altamirano-coached squad is now looking to prepare themselves for the PBA 3x3 Second Conference, which will start this coming October with regular teammates Yutien Andrada, Ael Banal, Louie Vigil, and newcomers Brandon Ramirez and Nico Salva.

Manila Chooks! ekes out berth into the Cebu Masters knockout rounds

Manila Chooks! star Mac Tallo basks in the glory of winning, while leaving Futian's Dimeo van der Horst with the feeling of the agony of defeat.

Fifteen months of frustration finally ended on Saturday night, as Manila Chooks! secured a berth to the knockout rounds of a 3x3 World Tour Masters.

Mac Tallo sent his hometown crowd at the SM Seaside City Cebu into a frenzy by nailing a game-winning two-pointer with 99 seconds remaining, as they defeated Futian, 21-17 at the 2023 Chooks-to-Go FIBA 3x3 World Tour Masters.

He shared to the media afterwards, "Siyempre ginawa namin ang lahat. Ang mentality namin mula kaninang umaga mag-cramps na tayo, kahit ma-injure tayo ibuhos na natin lahat kasi we never, I think it's been a year na hindi kami nakapasok ng Day 2 ng mga tournaments."

Tallo adds, "At ito na iyon, finally, nakapasok na kami. Hopefully, iyong momentum namin sa last game, madala namin bukas."

The top-ranked Filipino 3x3 baller scored nine points, with Marcus Hammonds adding five of his own. The remaining duo of Tosh Sesay and Marquez Letcher-Ellis combined for the remaining seven points.

With the win in the books to balance out their 14-20 defeat to Vienna, they earned a second-place finish in Pool C, good enough to make it into the quarterfinals, where a matchup against Ub awaits at 4pm.

The Serbs and likely title favorites lead the cast of quarterfinal participants. The Manila leg champions dispatched Wuxi, 21-16 and survived Sansar, 21-19. The Chinese side beat the Mongolians, 21-12 to finish second in Pool A.

Amsterdam topped Pool B with its wins against San Juan, 19-12, and Paris, 21-18. The Puerto Ricans clawed out a 21-19 win over the French to secure second spot.

Vienna managed to top Pool C by pairing their win over Manila with a 21-13 win over Futian.

The last two tickets were formally issued to Miami and Ulaanbaatar, with the Americans topping the Pool after a 22-15 triumph over Lubao and a 21-18 win over the Mongol quartet. Ulaanbaatar would outlast the other local side, 21-17 to cap off Day 1 action.

Highlighting the Saturday activities was a performance by rock band Sponge Cola for the Opening Ceremonies.

The Ub-Manila Chooks! matchup kicks off Day 2 action at 4pm, followed by Miami-San Juan at 425pm. Amsterdam-Ulaanbaatar is slated at 5pm, with the Vienna-Wuxi matchup concluding quarterfinal action at 525pm.

Semifinals are scheduled at 610pm and 635pm, with the championship to be decided at 730pm.

Aside from basketball, the shootout finals will take place at 550pm, with title favorite Steve Sir leading the four-man field that includes Tallo.

In addition, a dunk contest will also take place at 7pm, led by Filipino fan favorite David Carlos.

3x3 World Tour Cebu Masters set for launch

Miami x Manila in Cebu with the Sisters of Mary

The Chooks-to-Go FIBA 3x3 World Tour Cebu Masters starts today at the sprawling SM Seaside City Cebu, with the field including those that have made it to what the Philippines is trying to break into, the Summer Olympics.

The presence of players who were part of the inaugural edition in Tokyo, which includes the likes of Dejan Majstorovic and Dimeo van der Horst, serve as an inspiration for Manila Chooks mentor Chico Lanete, who shares, "It’s a motivation for us since there will be Olympians who will play here in the Cebu Masters."

The Philippines remains focused on earning their way into the Paris 2024 Games, and they aim to get as much points as they can to secure a chance to play into the competition, which will take place at Place de la Concorde at the heart of the French capital.

With two key local cogs still sidelined due to injuries in Paul Desiderio and Dennis Santos, Tallo will rely on a familiar face in Marcus Hammonds and a couple of relative newcomers in Marquez Letcher-Ellis and former UC standout Tosh Sesay. Both Desiderio and Santos have made the trip down South to provide support and encouragement.

The team participated recently in scrimmages against a Miami side led by BYU icon Jimmer Fredette, something that Lanete appreciates. He says, "We’re also blessed because there are teams that want to play with us. Like Miami, they were the ones who asked for a tune-up game. It’s a big help for us."

Fredette acknowledges how much the Philippines loves its basketball. He shares, "The Philippines have been very, very busy with basketball this summer, and we hope to be able to put on a show. I know this is a basketball-crazy country. Even the guy who picked us up was telling me all about how the people here just love basketball, they love the NBA, they love 3x3."

Joining Jimmer in this competition are Canyon Barry, Kareem Maddox, and Dylan Travis.

Manila Chooks will open up its campaign in Pool C against Vienna at 420pm, and close it out against Futian at 820pm. The matchup between Vienna and the van der Horst-led Futian will be at 620pm.

Miami, on the other hand, starts things off against either Lubao MCFASolver Tech Centrale, Taichung Hong Jia, or Auckland at 445pm. The three teams will duke it out in a round robin for that opportunity to open the World Tour leg at 1245pm. The Americans. will conclude their pool play against Ulaanbaatar at 645pm.

Kicking off pool play will be the Majstorovic-led Ub Huishan NE, who are seeking to bounce back consecutive fifth-place finishes after winning the first five legs of the 2023 World Tour, including the one that took place in Manila. They play Wuxi at 320pm in Pool A, with their matchup against Sansar MMC Energy a couple of hours later.

Completing the Pools is Pool B, highlighted by the presence of Amsterdam HiPRO, San Juan, and Paris. The Dutch face the Puerto Ricans first at 345pm, followed by their matchup against the French a couple of hours later. San Juan vs Paris takes place a couple of hours after that.

Outstanding teams will advance into the knockout rounds, which will start at 4pm Sunday at the same venue.

The champion takes home a $40,000 purse, with the runner-up settling for $30,000.

In case one will not be able to get to SM Seaside City Cebu, they can check out the action either at the FIBA 3x3 YouTube page, or through the Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas page on Facebook.

Lubao seek to impress in FIBA 3x3 debut

Lubao-MCFASolver Tech Centrale

Lubao-MCFASolver Tech Centrale is set to impress with their FIBA 3x3 debut at the Chooks-to-Go Cebu Masters this weekend.

The 12th seeds will be involved in the Qualifying Draw of the competition, where they have to deal with Auckland and Taichung.

They will face the Taiwanese side first, at 1245pm, followed by the Kiwis at 155pm.

Survive that, and they will enter into next stage as the third team of Pool D, where a Jimmer Fredette-led Miami and Asian powerhouse Ulaanbaatar MMC Energy beckons.

TH Tumalip believes that they are ready for the task ahead. He says, "Mahirap yung pagdadaanan namin pero handa kaming ipakita kung ano yung kaya namin. Pinaghandaan namin ng mabuti yung Cebu Masters at di kami susuko ng ganoon lang kadali."

TH will be with his teammate in claiming the Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas 3x3 Quest 3.0 title, Jose Blasquez. The Anton Altamirano-coached side has tapped a familiar face in the 3x3 scene locally in former Lyceum FSA Mike Harry Nzeusseu, as well as the top-ranked Croatian 3x3 player in the world Stanko Kujundzic.

The Cebu Masters will be shown on FIBA 3x3's YouTube page, as well as the Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas' page on Facebook.

Manila Chooks set for battle at Cebu Masters

Manila Chooks

Manila Chooks hopes to overcome injury attrition as they rejigger their 3x3 World Tour campaign at the 2023 Chooks-to-Go FIBA 3x3 World Tour Cebu Masters next week at SM Seaside.

With Paul Desiderio and Dennis Santos ruled out due to injuries, Mac Tallo will rely on the trio of Marcus Hammonds, Marquez Letcher-Ellis, and Tosh Sesay to get Manila into the knockout rounds.

Tallo shares, "Kailangan talaga namin mag-adjust sa team after the sudden injuries nila Paul and Dennis. Pinilit talaga nila maglaro pero hindi talaga gumaling in time ang tuhod ni Paul and medical condition ni Dennis."

He adds, "Thankful din ako na nag-step up si Quez, Tosh and Marcus kasi matagal ko na sila nakakalaro and aligned kami sa gustong ma-achieve ng team dito sa Cebu Masters. We will play hard."

Even with their recent woes, Tallo believes that they will not be pushovers, as the 11th seeds are set to evade qualifying and enter into pool play against undetermined opponents.

The stacked field includes Ub Huishan NE of Serbia, Amsterdam HiPro, and Vienna; as well as a Miami-side that is anchored by BYU legend Jimmer Fredette.

Asian sides Sansar and Ulaanbaatar, both backed by MMC Energy, as well as Futian and Wuxi from China serve as excellent foils.

The field also includes fellow Filipino side Lubao MCFASolver, who earned their spot by winning the Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas 3x3 2023 Quest 3.0 as Quezon City Wilcon Home Depot, a tournament that Manila Chooks finished 3rd last month.

A cool $40,000 awaits the champion, with $30,000 to be rewarded for the runners-up.

Fans will be able to watch the Cebu Masters through the FIBA 3x3 YouTube channel as well as the Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas page on Facebook.

Lubao MCFASolver Tech Centrale set for FIBA 3x3 debut in Cebu

Lubao MCFASolver

After earning a spot in the Cebu Masters leg of the FIBA 3x3 World Tour, the Wilcon Home Depot 3x3 team made a few tweaks heading into this coming tournament.

The Terrence Tumalip-bannered quartet is set to represent the storied basketball history of Pampanga through the municipality of Lubao. They also secured a local sponsor in the form of MCFASolver Tech Centrale, which is the top electronics store in Central Luzon.

Co-team owner Ma. Cristina F. Antonio shares, "It’s our tremendous pleasure to be representing the country in this World Tour event. We all know how famed Cabalens are in basketball and we want nothing more but to contribute to that starting this tournament."

Founded by Antonio and co-owner and partner Erickson A. Solver in October 2017, MCFASolver Tech Centrale started out in Sta. Cruz, Lubao, and has since grown into 55 branches across Central Luzon and even branched out into Pangasinan and La Union, with soon-to-open stores in Benguet and the rest of Northern Luzon down the line.

Since securing a spot in the Cebu Masters by claiming the Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas 3x3 2023 Quest 3.0 at Ayala Malls Solenad last month, the Anton Altamirano-coached squad made a couple of adjustments to ensure the team is ready for the task ahead.

Tumalip and Jose Blazquez will be joined by Mike Harry Nzeusseu as well as Stanko Kujundžić, the top-ranked 3x3 baller from Croatia.

Tumalip shares, "Confident kami sa ilalaro namin at alam namin na kaya naming makipagsabayan sa kahit na sinong makakalaban namin dito."

Lubao will have a formidable task ahead, with the likes of Ub, Amsterdam, Vienna, and Miami in the field for the September 23-24 tournament, as well as a Manila Chooks side led by Cebu native Mac Tallo.

Lanete ends retirement to boost Cebu Chooks bid at Mongolian Challenger

Cebu Chooks

Chico Lanete steps up to the plate once again.

The 44-year-old is set to end his retirement and don the Chooks 3x3 kits once again for this weekend's FIBA 3x3 Sukhbaatar Challenger in Mongolia.

Lanete was an emergency replacement for Cebu Chooks!, after Lenda Douanga experienced problems exiting the Bureau of Immigration in spite of having a Mongolian visa.

He will join CJ Payawal, Isaiah Hontiveros, and Victor Nguidjol in the level nine tournament at the National Amusement Park, which offers slots to the Amsterdam Masters this coming October.

Lanete announced his retirement after playing in the inaugural Cebu Masters last year, where he played for Manila Chooks!

Chooks-to-Go President Ronald Mascariñas is convinced Lanete still has what it takes.

He shares, "Coach Chico's return to action will really  boost the team's morale and overall performance on the court. Again, this shows how much he wants to represent our country and make every Filipino proud."

Mascariñas adds, "His willingness to come out of retirement and step up exemplifies why we do what we do for Philippine 3x3 basketball. Our Olympic dream is very much alive and this tournament in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia will be another stepping for us to reach our goal of seeing another Philippine basketball team donning the flag in the Paris Olympics, the biggest stage in sports."

Cebu Chooks! is slotted into Pool D alongside two Top-15 teams in the 3x3 rankings, facing off against Jimmer Fredette and 9th-ranked Miami at 320pm, followed by 12-ranked Futian at 640pm.

A chance at the knockout rounds the next day beckons if they can survive those matchups.

The Challenger also features a stacked field, including the likes of Antwerp, Beijing, and hosts Ulaanbaatar.

$15,000 awaits the champion, with $10,000 and $6,000 being the financial reward for the podium finishers, as an additional incentive besides the World Tour berths.

The games will be streamed on Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas' Facebook page, as well as broadcast on FIBA 3x3's YouTube channel.

Manila Chooks ready for Yichang Challenger

Manila Chooks off to China

With one eye on the upcoming Cebu leg of the 3x3 World Tour, Manila Chooks! continues its preparations through its participation in the FIBA 3x3 Yichang Challenger this weekend.

The quartet of Mac Tallo, Dennis Santos, Paul Desiderio, and Marcus Hammonds have been bracketed together alongside Futian and Zaisan in Pool A.

The eighth seeds are facing the Chinese side first at 210pm on Saturday, followed by their Mongolian opposition at 4pm. If they emerge as first or second in the group, they will get the chance to play in the knockout rounds slated on Sunday.

This particular Challenger leg seeks to fill available spots in the World Tour Masters leg at Constanta in Romania, with teams like Utrecht and Princeton also competing for the chance to be in the top 3x3 club tournament in the world.

Aside from this, it is also an opportunity for the side to procure additional points that can help boost the chances of the Philippines to be able to send a team to the Olympics next year in Paris.

As shared by Chooks-to-Go President Ronald Mascariñas, "We treat every tournament as a valuable tool to make our team better. This year is crucial and the points we earn in every international FIBA tournament we play in all contribute to our ultimate goal of making it to the Olympic Qualifying Tournament."

He adds, "Our players have taken this to heart and are all pushing their limits towards that lofty goal."

Mascariñas also says "The Yichang Challenger, just like all the other tournaments, is another opportunity to sharpen our skills and fortify the solid foundation we've set with Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas 3x3."

The Challenger, which has a $15,000 prize for its champion, will be streamed on Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas' Facebook page, as well as FIBA 3x3's YouTube account.

Cebu advances in Penang Challenger

Mac Tallo

Cebu Chooks! secures a berth into the knockout rounds of the FIBA 3x3 Penang Challenger on Saturday, after defeating Zavkhan MMC Energy, 18-15, at the Queensbay Mall in Malaysia.

A slow start saw Cebu trail Zavkhan, 5-0, before managing to knot things at 8-all.

Mac Tallo then decided to take control of the game, with the top-ranked Filipino in the 3x3 scene finishing with five deuces against their Mongolian opposition. He would finish with a game-high twelve points.

Brandon Ramirez and Zach Huang are credited with Cebu's remaining six points, as Vince Tolentino makes his debut without a point to his name.

Avirmed Lhagvaa paced Zavkhan with six points.

"It's a good start for our Cebu team and for Coach Chico (Lanete). They showed great heart in overcoming a slow start against their archrivals," according to Chooks-to-Go president Ronald Mascariñas.

Cebu earned the berth into the knockout rounds due to Zavkhan having previously lost to Liman, 21-11 to finish Pool A without a victory.

Cebu and Liman will determine who tops the pool at 650pm.

Head trainer Chico Lanete shares, "Kahit nakapasok na kami sa next round, gagawin namin ang lahat against Liman. Malalaman namin kung nasan na kami sa larong 'yun."

The Scores:

Cebu 18 - Tallo 12, Ramirez 4, Huang 2, Tolentino 0.

Zavkhan 15 - Lhagvaa 6, Bayarsaikhan 4, Tsermaa 3, Khureltogoo 2.

Vince Tolentino set to make Cebu Chooks debut

Cebu Chooks with new addition Vince Tolentino

Vince Tolentino hits the ground running when he makes his Chooks 3x3 debut with Cebu Chooks! this weekend, alongside Mac Tallo, Zach Huang, and Brandon Ramirez.

The former Ateneo and Rain or Shine big man replaces Mike Harry Nzeusseu, who had visa issues and will miss out on this tournament.

The quartet is set to join the FIBA 3x3 Penang Challenger, a level-nine tournament that also serves as a qualifier for the Paris Masters in the 3x3 World Tour.

Tolentino says, "I'm really excited as this will be my first-ever 3x3 tournament. Definitely looking forward to competing with my new teammates and representing the country. I'll do my best in fulfilling my role here in the team."

Cebu is slotted into Pool A, alongside Liman Huishan NE, followed by Zavkhan MMC Energy. They face the Mongolian side first at 410pm, with their duel against the Serbians at 650pm.

Chooks-to-Go president Ronald Mascarinas shares, "This will be a good test for Cebu Chooks! on whether they can compete on their own. All of our efforts for the next month will be leading towards our hosting Chooks-to-Go FIBA 3x3 Cebu World Tour Masters and Penang will be a good test for our team."

For head trainer Chico Lanete, it is an opportunity to see who would be comprising the team for that important event. He says, "I will use this tournament as my gauge on who will compose the Cebu team for the Cebu Masters. Hopefully, we can bounce back in this tournament and gain momentum for our hosting."

The first-ever 3x3 World Tour event in the Queen City of the South, the Cebu Masters will take place at SM Seaside on October 1-2.

Chooks 3x3 moves on from Ayo departure

 

Even with the sudden departure of Aldin Ayo from the Chooks 3x3 program, league owner Ronald Mascariñas had just has three words to say. 

"We move on."

Mascariñas met with the players that comprise the pool this past weekend, led by Mac Tallo, Zach Huang, Chico Lanete, Dennis Santos, Brandon Ramirez, Ken Holmqvist, Dave Ando, Mike Harry Nzeusseu, and Henry Iloka, armed with the stance that the program will continue as scheduled.

He shares, "We are not going anywhere. We do not see it as a setback. We will continue to take good care of our players and give them everything they need as they continue their journey in the global FIBA 3x3 pro circuit."

Training has been constant for the 3x3 pool, with Tallo, Ramirez, Huang, and Nzeusseu participating as Cebu Chooks in the Lipik Challenger, where they finished 11th. They also are planning to participate in a few Super Quests, and other international tournaments, highlighted by the Chooks-to-Go FIBA 3x3 Cebu Masters in October.

Lanete was since named as the interim head trainer for the side, with Mascariñas looking to continue to tweak the program with the end goal of getting the Philippines into the 2024 Paris Olympics. Among such measures include providing coaching help to Chico through assistant coaches and a foreign consultant, as well as recruitment of players that can boost the team.

"We are currently in the process of adding more players to our pool and giving Coach Chico everything he needs as our leader," said Mascariñas. "This will not stop us in our mission of gaining valuable FIBA 3x3 points for the country in hopes of making it to the Paris Olympics in 2024."

Melbourne tops Manila Masters Qualifying

 

Melbourne booked its spot into the main draw of the FIBA 3x3 World Tour Manila Masters, securing it with two wins in qualifying action on Saturday afternoon at the Ayala Malls Manila Bay.

The Aussie side kicked off things with a 21-16 victory over Yokohama, with Jesse Wagstaff netting seven points and Andre Steele adding six more.

Melbourne ensured smooth sailing in securing the direct spot in Pool B with a 21-10 victory over Auckland, with Steele capping the win with a deuce for his ninth point with 3:12 left. Wagstaff added five points, including the opening two points of the match, as they went ahead 7-0 and never looked back.

Greg Hire and Cooper Wilks completed the scoring with four and three markers, respectively.

Looming ahead for the quartet are 2nd-ranked Antwerp and Sansar MMC Energy.

In a matchup to determine who will not finish last amongst the fourteen teams in the field, Auckland defeats Yokohama, 21-10 with under seven minutes remaining.

Forty thousand dollars awaits the champion of the top-level event.

Qualifying for the two-point shootout also took place in between these three matches, with a three-way tie forming between Wagstaff, Tatsuhito Noro of Yokohama, and our very own Mac Tallo. All three made seven deuces.

Completing the finalists is Chris McIntosh, as the Auckland gunner beat out Strahinja Stojacic of Ub in making six two-pointers, 29.33 seconds to 30 seconds.

One of these four shooters will have a chance tomorrow to take home $500, with a $5000 incentive for any one of the four to beat the current shootout record of seventeen.

The Scores:

Qualifying Draw:

Game 1:
Melbourne 21 - Wagstaff 7, Steel 6, Hire 4, Wilks 4.
Yokohama 16 - Popovic 12, Minatoya 4, Noro 0,  Iwasa 0.
Time: Wagstaff (8:41)

Game 2:
Melbourne 21 - Steel 9, Wagstaff 5, Hire 4, Wilks 3.
Auckland 10 - McIntosh 5, Castle 2, Easthope 2, Aruwa 1.
Time: Steel 2 (6:48)

Game 3:
Auckland 21 - Easthope 8,  Castle 6, McIntosh 4, Aruwa 3.
Yokohama 10 - Popovic 6, Minatoya 4, Noro 0,  Iwasa 0.
Time: Easthope (6:52)

Manila HeiHei wins Chooks 3x3 Invitational

Mac Tallo was the Best Player of the Game in the 21-6 final for Manila HeiHei

It was the Mac Tallo show at the Laus Events Centre in San Fernando, Pampanga on Wednesday, as Manila HeiHei finished atop the 2021 Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas 3x3 Invitational.

Much like the cars being showcased in the different showrooms nearby, Tallo revved out and torched the 3x3 opposition, finishing undefeated in the one-day tournament supported by TM, Wilson Basketball, Homegrown Grains, and Adam Ezli.

The former SWU standout outscored Pasig Kingpin by himself in the final, dropping thirteen points on five two-pointers and lead Manila to a 21-6 victory with 4:41 left in the ten-minute matchup.

Manila went on an 8-1 lead and never looked back, with Tallo scoring seven of those. He and Chico Lanete put in the work on defense as well, checking the Monteclaro brothers. Ryan and Nikki, who each had their way from deep all tournament long, were limited to just a point each.

Zach Huang added five markers while defending Toba Eugene. Mike Nzeusseu bucked a hand injury in their 18-10 semifinal against ARQ Builders-Cebu to tack on a couple of points. The former Lyceum standout got the knock battling with Landry Sanjo for a rebound with 118 seconds remaining in their grueling match.

Manila HeiHei would net PhP 110,000 with the victory, with the additional PhP 10,000 coming from the final being the Fastest Game of the tournament.

Manila head trainer Aldin Ayo was pleased with the result. He shares, "Happy that this tournament happened. I hope that they got the confidence and the rhythm. It's important that we simulate the actual situations and we can't do that in practice."

On whether Nzeusseu's injury could affect their upcoming stint in the 2021 FIBA 3x3 World Tour Abu Dhabi Masters, Ayo says, "Malayo sa bituka yun e. I hope he recovers in time for Abu Dhabi. He has a big responsibility with our team and he has to overcome that. It's not a major injury."

To get to the final, Pasig dispatched Essen Immunoboost Sarangani, 21-15. In finishing second, they are PhP 50,000 richer. Sarangani netted PhP 20,000 for the third place finish.

In the side events for the FIBA 3x3-endorsed and Games and Amusements Board-regulated tournament, Janus Lozada of AMACOR Mandaluyong claimed the two-point shootout after going 9/10, netting PhP 10,000. As for the newly-renamed Sudan Slam Dunk Competition, David Carlos beat Nhomar Gonzales and Lennon Abiso to earn PhP 20,000.

Tallo knocked down the championship-clinching deuce with 4:41 left, marking the finals as the fastest game of the day as well. It gave them an additional P10,000 on top of their P100,000 prize in this tournament endorsed by FIBA 3x3, regulated by the Games and Amusements Board.

Kicking off the knockout rounds and setting up the semifinal dramatics, Mandaluyong ran out of luck against Cebu, 19-21; Homegrown Grains Bocaue fell short against Sarangani, 15-21; Pacquiao Coffee Bacolod got outsniped by Pasig, 15-21; and BRT Sumisip Basilan ran into the Manila freight train, 10-21. 

The Scores:

Manila 21 - Tallo 13, Huang 5, Nzeusseu 2, Lanete 1.

Pasig 6 - Eugene 3, Monteclaro R. 1, Monteclaro N. 1, Belencion 1.