Pasig look to end recent 3x3 woes at Poitier Challenger

Pasig Chooks with Chooks Pilipinas 3x3 Commissioner Eric Altamirano

Pasig Chooks seeks to get themselves back on track, as they compete in the upcoming Poitiers Challenger of the FIBA 3x3 World Tour in France this weekend.

This particular Challenger is a feeder to the Lausanne Masters, which will take place on August 23-24.

Ranked 27th in the world, the quartet of Joshua Munzon (World number 96), Taylor Statham (World number 102), Nikola Pavlovic (World number 134), and Dylan Ababou (Philippines' number 6), have struggled in the last two Challengers they have participated, going winless in Kunshan and Moscow.

Such struggles have since moved into league play, having been stopped by Phenom-Basilan Steel, 20-18, in the semifinals of the second leg of the Patriots' Cup at SM Fairview, the first time the Kings did not make a final in the history of Chooks Pilipinas 3x3, going back to the President's Cup and even the preseason.

With time running out on the Philippines' aspirations to make it to Olympic Qualification for men's 3x3 basketball, league owner Ronald Mascariñas made clear his marching orders for Pasig, in the aftermath of both Basilan (as Isabela City Chooks) and Wilkins-Balanga (as Balanga Chooks) being unable to make it to the knockout rounds of the Haining Challenger last week, even if the former managed to emerge out of the qualifiers and into pool play with just three guys.

The BAVI head honcho says, "It's one thing to participate but we need to get the victories as it will multiply our points in the FIBA 3X3 ladder. They are more equipped now to take on the European squads with their experience in both our local league and the Challengers they played in."

Seeded fifth overall, Pasig is assigned in Pool D alongside Swiss side Lausanne, and one from these three French teams set to participate in qualifying: Lyon Blacklist, La Rochelle, and Poitiers.

They will face the qualifier at 1130pm on July 5, before facing Lausanne at 230am on July 6. Survive that and they will face either Kranj, Nantes Aderim, or Cairo in the quarterfinals later that evening. (All times in Manila)

Munzon is aware of the recent struggles, says "I wouldn't say that there's more pressure than the last one but I feel like we know that we are better than what we have been showing. We have to go out there and win games."

Statham adds, "We said over and over again that this is an uphill battle. We've used all these losses as lessons. The Poitiers Challenger is a good gauge of how far we've come. I don't want to give any predictions or say what we are going to do. I just want to let our game do the talking."

Joining the quartet in France is Chooks Pilipinas 3x3 Commissioner Eric Altamirano.

Participating in the Poitiers Challenger means Pasig will miss out on the third leg of the Chooks Pilipinas 3x3 Patriots' Cup presented by Coca-Cola, which also takes place this weekend at SM Muntinlupa.

The league, however, recognizes that and will award Pasig 60-100 points depending on the team's performance in the Challenger.

Pasig claims first leg of Patriots Cup

The best 3x3 team in the country. The team with the two best 3x3 players in the country.

New tournament. Tweaked rules. Same result.

Gold's Gym-Pasig Kings reminding everyone about their place in the 3x3 basketball scheme of things, as they secured the first leg of the Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas 3x3 Patriots' Cup presented by Coca-Cola on Sunday afternoon at the SM Seaside City in Cebu.

The President's Cup champions claimed the title by defeating upstarts Phenom-Basilan Steel, 21-15, in just under 8 minutes.

Taylor Statham ran roughshod against the Steel, scoring 13 points. He shared after the tournament, "It's great. Honestly this is what our team needed."

Pasig struggled in both the Kunshan and Tinkoff Moscow Challengers, finishing both competitions without a win.

Taylor went on a personal 5-2 run against Basilan, allowing the Kings to move ahead 15-14 after trailing 12-10.

Joshua Munzon and Nikola Pavlovic each added four points for Pasig to complete scoring.

Marcus Hammond led Phenom-Basilan with eleven points, with both Franky Johnson, Roosevelt Adams, and Troy Rike shut down by the Kings' defense.

Basilan managed to break through to the final after riding on Johnson's shooting to fend off Wilkins Balanga Pure, 21-19.

This leg featured the presence of a foreign squad with VetHealth Delhi of India's 3x3 Pro Basketball League. The 14th-ranked club side in the FIBA 3x3 rankings made it to the semifinals before bowing to Pasig, 21-16, doing so with just three guys due to Arsh Deep Singh having travel issues.

The Indian side did have something to be proud of, as Kiran Shastri claimed the Shootout competition with a 14-9 victory over Max4 Birada Cebu's Mark-Gil Panerio.

Meanwhile, David Carlos ruled the roost in the Slam Dunk competition.

Statham adds, "Those are two great teams we just played. Can't make too many turnovers and mistakes."

Pasig took home PHP 100,000 and 100 points in taking the first leg. Excelling in all five legs is a must after league owner Ronald Mascarinas announced that berths in the Jeddah Masters and the Xiong'an Challenger are on the line for outstanding teams in the Patriots' Cup.

The Scores:

Pasig 21 -- Statham 13, Munzon 4, Pavlovic 4, Ababou 0.

Basilan 15 -- Hammonds 11, Johnson 2, Adams 2, Rike 0.

Pasig Chooks set for Kunshan grind

Pasig Chooks

For Pasig Chooks, the quest to make headway in the 3x3 scene leads to a familiar roadblock.

The Chooks Pilipinas 3x3 President's Cup champions are set to once again cross paths with Liman when pool play for the FIBA 3x3 Huaquiao International Kunshan Challenger commences on Saturday.

At 740pm, the Serbian side will have a chance to avenge their 19-16 loss to the Kings at the Doha Masters, although this time around they will be facing a team without Nikola Pavlovic and Angelo Tsagarakis. Both players are sidelined due to injuries, with Pavlovic has an injured hand and Tsagarakis dealing with a semi-fractured rib.

Dylan Ababou and Troy Rike have rejoined the duo of Joshua Munzon and Taylor Statham, reuniting the same crack unit that dominated Chooks Pilipinas 3x3. Both Joshua and Taylor highlighted their chemistry and experience alongside each other as a key role heading into the Challenger.

Statham shares, "I have the utmost confidence in Troy and Dylan. "We played together for four months and it doesn't matter how good players are, the team camaraderie is what's so important. And you can't replicate the experience." The top-ranked Filipino 3x3 baller had nine points and five rebounds against Liman that day.

Munzon adds, "We won the local league championship together so I feel like we have that chemistry. Experience is everything in 3x3. We definitely hope they get their rhythm and can contribute and do their thing too." The ASEAN Basketball League veteran added four markers in that particular win.

Before facing off against Liman, Pasig Chooks will face Russian side Sosnovy Bor Cop Rosatom at 555pm. That matchup could already decide the fate of Pool A, since Liman and Sosnovy Bor will play at 410pm.

Survive pool play and they get the chance at making it to the Chengdu Masters in a few weeks through Sunday's knockout rounds.

The Kunshan Challenger champion claims $15,000, while the runner-up gets $10,000. Third and fourth place teams net $5,000 and $2,000, respectively.

One can watch Day 1 of the Kunshan Challenger below.

Pasig set for All-Filipino grind at Kunshan Challenger

The original Pasig Grindhouse squad back together. Flanked by the Altamiranos

Pasig Chooks will be channeling a little throwback when it participates in the FIBA 3x3 Huaquiao International Kunshan Challenger this weekend.

With both its recent reinforcements sidelined with injuries, the team will be going back to the original lineup that dominated the Chooks Pilipinas 3x3 President's Cup in Taylor Statham, Joshua Munzon, Dylan Ababou, and Troy Rike.

Nikola Pavlovic is nursing a swollen left hand, while Angelo Tsagarakis is dealing with a semi-fractured rib that he incurred during the Doha Masters.

Regardless, the team believes this is a good test for the country, as it tests its mettle against some of the world's best in the 3x3 scene.

League commissioner Eric Altamirano shares, "It's going to be tough. We are facing Liman and one Russian team. It's going to be a tough group but hopefully, with their familiarity of the players with each other, that can be an advantage for us." He adds, "Also, Josh and Taylor gained a lot of experience in Doha."

Pasig Chooks is in Pool A alongside familiar foe Liman and Russian side Sosnovy Bor Cop Rosatom. They play the Russians first at 5:55pm, before facing the Serbs at 740pm on Saturday.

Finishing first or second in the Pool grants them access to the knockout rounds on Sunday.

Topping the Challenger nets $15,000, while runners-up pocket $10,000.  Finishing third and fourth nets $5,000 and $2,000, respectively.

"They are not just representing Pasig or Chooks-to-Go for this tournament. They are the country's representatives," closed Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas 3x3 league owner Ronald Mascariñas.

The Kunshan Challenger is the final qualifier for the second leg of the FIBA 3x3 World Tour, which takes place in Chengdu this coming June. Liman and Riga Ghetto have already booked their ticket to this particular 3x3WT leg, so the top team other than those two will earn said ticket.

Taylor Statham successfully runs 3x3 basketball camp

Taylor Statham checks one thing off his bucket list: running a basketball camp.

The first-ever Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas 3x3 basketball camp took place last Friday afternoon at the Sheridan branch of Gold's Gym in Mandaluyong.

Over forty kids took up the offer that initially was posted on Taylor Statham's social media, a brainchild of both he and Chooks-to-Go.

When I came back to the Philippines a major goal of mine was to throw FREE camps for kids less fortunate in different provinces.

With the help of Chooks To Go I’m hosting the first ever 3x3 Basketball Camp in the Philippines to start off our tour of camps 🇵🇭 pic.twitter.com/PKZTRxxqkD

— Taylor Statham (@therealTStat) April 30, 2019

The free clinic centered on teaching the basics of the halfcourt game, with Taylor and his buddies in the 3x3 game, led by his Pasig Grindhouse teammates Joshua Munzon, Troy Rike, Dylan Ababou, Nikola Pavlovic, among others, also providing their know-how.

The top-ranked Filipino in 3x3 basketball shares, "As athletes, we tend to be so focused on ourselves. I wanted to give back and help kids find their passion, give them opportunities they didn’t have before while also showing other athletes that it doesn’t matter if your a top player or an average player -- you can impact lives and communities with small acts."

He adds, "My mission is always to be the best basketball player but beyond that, I want to inspire lives through what I do."

Statham sees this as the first of many such camps that will be held all across the country. He says, "With the help of Chooks To Go we will be putting on more of these in the provinces where they may not have access to high-level coaches."

This basketball camp serves as a break for Pasig, as they continue their preparations for the upcoming Kunshan Challeger, which is a qualifier for the Chengdu leg of the FIBA 3x3 World Tour.

Chooks World Tour yields immediate dividends in FIBA 3x3 rankings

Taylor Statham drives to the basket against Katara opposition.

The Philippines' quest to make the Tokyo 2020 Olympics in 3x3 basketball continues to make incidental advances, in the advent of the release of the updated FIBA 3x3 rankings.

After the FIBA 3x3 World Tour Masters in Doha, the Philippines moved up a single spot in the federation rankings to 31st overall with 1,806,820 points.

This is possible due to the effort of Pasig Grindhouse and the Bataan Risers, who finished fifth and sixth in the first leg of the 2019 World Tour.

Chooks Pilipinas 3x3 owner Ronald Mascariñas says, "We are elated with this development but the work is far from over." He adds, "We at Chooks-to-Go will continue to do our part in helping promote 3x3 basketball, develop our players, and join the tournaments sanctioned by FIBA."

The efforts of two teams also yielded their own benefits for themselves.

Pasig is now ranked 27th in the world with their fifth-place finish, having beat Katara, 21-14 in just over eight minutes and upsetting Liman, 19-16, before bowing out to Riga Ghetto in the quarterfinals, 15-21.

The Kings have a chance to further improve these rankings with their participation in the Huaqiao International Kunshan Challenger this coming May 18-19. This particular Challenger is a qualifier to the Chengdu Masters, which is the second leg of the 3x3 World Tour.

Individually, Taylor Statham moved past teammate Joshua Munzon to be the top-ranked Filipino in 3x3.

Statham is now ranked 114th in the world with 349,080. Munzon is now 120th with 338,520.

Bataan's core duo of Alvin Pasaol and Leonard Santillan also rocketed up the standings, with Pasaol now 148th at 308,680 and Santillan at 221st 254,820.

FIBA has set some guidelines in order to secure berths in the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, with only seven available berths (as Japan claims one spot by serving as hosts).

Only the top 24 federations as of November 1 this year will be allowed to participate in the Olympic Qualifying Tournaments, which as of the moment are composed of:

Men: Serbia, Russia, Slovenia, Latvia, Japan, China, Mongolia, United States, Netherlands, Qatar, Lithuania, Ukraine, Brazil, Romania, Poland, France, Estonia, Czech Republic, Canada, South Korea, Turkey, Germany, Hungary, and Belarus (5,934,045). The Philippines is currently 30th with 5,196,380.

Women: China, Mongolia, Russia, Romania, France, Estonia, Japan, Ukraine, Netherlands, Hungary, Uruguay, Iran, Indonesia, Italy, Czech Republic, Switzerland, Brazil, Latvia, Belarus, Uganda, Sri Lanka, Spain, Turkmenistan, and Australia (985,332). The Philippines is currently 35th with 628,245.

In addition, National team pools are restricted to the top 10 players of each country in the FIBA 3x3 rankings. Players in the Chooks Pilipinas 3x3 compose the top 21 3x3 Filipinos in the country as of the end of the President's Cup.