FAVORITES Family’s Brand Sardines-Zamboanga City Chooks and Uling Roasters-Butuan City couldn’t let their guard down in the Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas 3×3 President’s Cup powered by TM which holds its Grand Finals this weekend.
Zamboanga City and Butuan City, as well as Nueva Ecija Rice Vanguards and Pasig-Sta. Lucia Realtors, are already through the quarterfinals of the winner-take-all tournament that culminates with the Million-Peso Game on Friday at the Inspire Sports Academy in Calamba, Laguna.
But that’s no guarantee in an unpredictable 3×3 game with eight other teams expected to go all out in the Grand Finals beginning at 11 a.m. with streaming on Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas Facebook and FIBA 3×3 YouTube, and airing on BEAM TV Ch. 31.
“We expect that any team can go all the way. We don’t underestimate any team,” said Uling Roasters’ top gun Franky Johnson on the level playing field in the pioneering professional 3×3 league energized by hydration partner Gatorade. “We respect all these teams and what can they do.”
Nueva Ecija’s Juan Gomez de Liaño and Butuan’s Chico Lanete, however, will miss the Finals because of injuries. De Liaño is still recovering from his right ankle sprain while Lanete will be on the sidelines nursing a swollen left shoulder.
Butuan City seized the second-seed after accumulating 330 points in the first four legs while the top-seed went to Family’s Brand Sardines with 345 points. Nueva Ecija (240 points) and Pasig (215 points) are the third- and fourth-seeds, respectively.
They await the winners in the four knockout bouts with Big Boss Cement-Porac MSC Green Gorillas (8) and Zamboanga Peninsula Valientes MLV (9) kicking off the last leg.
That will be followed by matchups between Palayan City Capitals (5) and MLV Pagadian Rocky Sports (12), Sarangani Marlins (6) and Petra Cement-Roxas ZN Rockies (11) and Bacolod-Master Sardines (7) and Bicol Paxful 3×3 Pro (10).
The quarterfinals, semifinals and Finals will still be elimination matches.
All eyes will be on Zamboanga City, winner of three of four legs as well as the preseason of the FIBA 3×3-endorsed tournament supervised by the Games and Amusements Board and sanctioned by the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas.
“We’re going for the championship. We have all the talent, all the tools, all the experience to do it,” said Troy Rike, speaking for teammates Joshua Munzon, Alvin Pasaol, and Santi Santillan. “It’s not going to be easy. Other teams are going to go for it, too, but for us, we’re gunning for that championship.”