By Adrian Stewart Co
Negrense forward Mark Yee will bring his veteran smarts to the Manila Chooks TM that will compete in the 2021 FIBA 3×3 Lipik Challenger slated from May 21 to 22 in Lipik, Croatia.
Manila Chooks TM head trainer Aldin Ayo confirmed the entry of the 39-year-old Yee as the fifth member of the team along with Chico Lanete, Mac Tallo, Dennis Santos, and Zach Huang.
“Mark Yee is a good addition to the Manila Chooks TM 3×3 pool since he stretches the floor and has been known to be a good defender in the post,” said the former University of Santo Tomas Growling Tigers mentor.
The Sagay City, Negros Occidental-native Yee was an experienced cager having played in the PBA for Burger King Whopper, TNT Tropang Giga, Meralco Bolts, NorthPort Batang Pier, and Columbian Dyip.
After his PBA career, Yee joined the Davao Occidental-Cocolife in the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League and played a key role in the team’s title run in the 2019-2021 MPBL Lakan Cup.
“Sobrang blessed. Hindi naman natin maitatago na may edad na tayo para maimbitahan tayo sa ganito kalaking team,” Yee said. “Magiging tiyuhin na nila ako dito sa team.”
“Sa pagkakataon na ito, hindi ko naisip na mare-represent ko pa ‘yung bansa natin sa FIBA sa tanda ko na ito,” he added. “Kahit maliit kami, papakita namin na hindi kami susuko. Dadaanin namin sa sipag at tiyaga ang bawat laro.”
For Yee, this will not be his first foray to 3×3 basketball as he led the Fyr Fyter Bacolod to a championship finish during the Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas 3×3 Magiting Cup two years ago.
“Magandang experience ‘yun. First time ko maglaro ng 3×3. ‘Yung goal lang namin nun is ma-represent ‘yung Bacolod. Pero naging champion pa kami,” Yee said. “Hindi ko makakalimutan ‘yun.”
In Lipik, Manila Chooks TM will once again be in the qualifying draw with Croatia’s Split; Puerto Rico’s San Juan; Germany’s Bielefeld TSVE and Dusseldorf LFDY; and the winner of a Quest tournament in Russia./ASC, WDJ