Manila Chooks targets to bounce back in Leg 3

After two stints in the quarterfinals, head trainer Chico Lanete swore Manila Chooks 3x3 will get over the hump— that includes beating world No. 11 Utrecht of the Netherlands if they cross paths anew.

“Syempre naman (Of course) (if Manila Chooks can beat Utrecht). Naniniwala ako na darating tayo diyan (I believe we will get there),” Lanete said. “Iyan ang goal natin at nakikita naman natin iyong improvement ng team at iyong effort na ipinapakita ng mga players natin sa bawat laro dito (That is our goal and we see the improvement of the team and the effort shown by our players in every game here).”

“Alam nating hindi madali dahil isa sa mga world’s top 3x3 teams iyan at talaga namang makikita mo ang lalaki nila pero walang imposible. Mas malaki pa rin ang puso ng mga Pinoy (We know it's not easy because that's one of the world's top 3x3 teams and you'll definitely see their man, but nothing is impossible. Filipinos still have bigger hearts),” he added.

Eager to bounce back, the resilient Filipino 3x3 cagers try to lick their wounds fast when they do battle on Friday, March 17, in the FIBA 3X3 Pro League Netherlands 2023 Winter Edition Stop 3 at the Amsterdam Velodrome.

The quartet of Philippine No. 1 Mac Tallo, No. 3 Dennis Santos, CJ Payawal, and Matt Salem, still filling in the shoes of injured big man Brandon Ramirez (knee), take on Toronto of Canada at 2:05 a.m. and Dutch side Ijmuiden at 3:45 a.m.

Manila Chooks fell to Utrecht 11-22 for the second straight time in the Last 8 of Stop 2 last Tuesday.

But Lanete is not one to lose faith in his charges.

“Basta (Let’s just) focus on the task at hand lang lagi (always),” he said. “They have to have the presence of mind at iyong (and the) energy from start to finish dapat (should be) consistent iyan lahat (all that).”

The top team in Stop 3 will take home $15,000 and a berth to the Manila Masters, while the second and third placers will bag $10,000 and $5,000, respectively.

In the final of the FIBA level 8 tourney, the top squad will earn $15,000 and a slot to the Macau Masters.

The second and third placers will get $7,000 and $5,000, respectively.

Fans can watch the games live on Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas’ Facebook page.