DAVID CARLOS soared to great heights in the elimination round of the dunk contest of the 2018 Fiba 3×3 World Cup on Sunday at the Philippine Arena in Bocaue, Bulacan.
In a field of seven of the world’s best dunkers, Carlos made the second round of the competition to become the first Filipino to advance deeper in the event.
France’s Guy “Frequent Flier” Dupuy topped the field with 53 points, followed by Ukraine’s Vadim “Miller” Piddubchenko with 48. Dymtro “Smoove” Krivenko and Carlos strung up 47 points.
For his first dunk, Carlos jumped over four men and thrust the ball through. His second stuff saw him sail over two men and grabbed the ball for a reverse dunk.
“It was great performing in front of my countrymen,” an elated Carlos said. “I hope I can make them proud come Independence Day [finals of the Fiba 3×3 World Cup and dunk Contest].”
The national men’s team, meanwhile, could only wish that the heavy downpour outside the Philippine Arena would mean blessing as they scramble to secure a spot in the quarterfinals of World Cup.
Christian Standhardinger, Stanley Pringle, Roger Pogoy and Troy Rosario split their first two assignments on Saturday, stunning sixth-ranked Brazil (15-7) in the process but absorbing a painful 17-19 loss to Mongolia.
Philippine Coach Ronnie Magsanoc could only mumble on the physicality of the tournament.
“We have to learn quickly and have to fast-track it so we’ll be ready for Monday again,” Magsanoc said.
The hosts face Canada at 4:50 p.m. today and Russia later at 7 p.m. in Group C action.
The team started the tournament with a bang against Brazil, controlling much of the game with torrid sniping by Pogoy and the inside attacks of Pringle, who is playing his first 3×3. Each had four points.
Rosario, the versatile 6-foot-7 forward who had his share of spotlight in the final three minutes, also contributed four points. Battling a bad knee, Standhardinger, finished with three points.
Against 2017 Fiba 3×3 Asia Cup champion Mongolia, the Filipinos again went on a furious salvo in the opening minutes, only to see their momentum doused in the critical stretch with the visitors’ accurate shooting.
Canada leads Group C with a 2-0 won-lost record, with the Philippines, Mongolia and Russia all tied up at 1-1. Brazil remained winless in two games.
Only the top 2 teams in each bracket will advance to the quarterfinals.