MANDAUE City—There’s something about Cebu that inspires Ronald Mascariñas—the godfather of Philippine 3×3.
“We are here today to pay homage to The Sisters of Mary School Girlstown and Boystown,” Chooks-to-Go president Mascariñas said. “Thus, we are bringing the biggest basketball event here in Cebu.”
Mascariñas spoke during Thursday’s festive press conference for the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) 3×3 World Tour Cebu Masters 2022 at Radisson Blu.
The event is set this Saturday and Sunday at SM Seaside.
“You [Sisters of Mary] welcomed us with open hearts when we launched 3×3 in 2019, so we’re bringing back what is best for Cebu,” said Mascariñas, who was joined at the head table by Sisters of Mary Boystown’s Sr. Esterlita Capiña, SM, and Girlstown’s Sr. Laresa Morasa, SM.
Chooks-to-Go, together with The Sisters of Mary School Girlstown and Boystown, broke a FIBA world record for most kids playing in a 3×3 game and the most number of simultaneous under-18 games played with 1,656 girls and 1,380 boys taking part in a feat in January 2019.
Mascariñas’s dream is bound to go even higher—the Olympics.
“I’m not optimistic but I’m hopeful we can do it,” said Mascariñas in response to questions on the possibility of Filipino players qualifying for the Paris 2024 Olympics.
“Everything we’re doing is leaning towards qualifying for the Olympic Qualifying Tournament,” he added.
Fourteen teams are seeing action in the two-day, maximum level tournament where $40,000 awaits the champion with the Philippines relying on Cebu Chooks! and Manila Chooks! for a strong finish.
Cebu—bannered by its proud son Mac Tallo, Brandon Ramirez, Zach Huang and Mike Harry Nzeusseu—is in Pool A with Antwerp and Omaha.
Manila, meanwhile, will be led by Chooks 3×3 head trainer Chico Lanete, Dennis Santos, Henry Iloka and newcomer Dave Ando.
Pool B is composed of Riga, Utsonomiya Brex and Sansar MMC, while Saitama, Jeddah and Amsterdam make up Pool C.