By Adrian Stewart Co
Pacquiao Coffee-Bacolod will banner the 12 teams competing in the Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas Invitational powered by TM today at the Laus Events Center in San Fernando, Pampanga.
The Bacolod City-based squad is bannered by former Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) cagers John Karlo Casino, Cyrus Tabi and Joseph Eriobu. Jayjay Manlangit completes the team.
Ilonggo Jaypee Belencion and Negrense Mark Yee will also compete in the one-day event that will see the champion take home P100,000 while the second and third place finishers will bank P50,000 and P20,000, respectively.
The Zarraga, Iloilo-native Belencion will spearhead the Pasig Kingpins 3×3 squad together with Ryan and Nikki Monteclaro and Nigerian center Eugene Toba.
The Sagay City, Negros Occidental-native Yee is part of the Homegrown Grains Bocaue along with Dennis Santos, Ralph Tansingco, and Jayvee Marcelino.
Other competing teams are HeiHei Manila, BRT Sumisip Basilan, AMACOR Mandaluyong, RBR Cabiao Nueva Ecija, Adam Esli Pasay, MNL Kingpin Quezon City, Essen Immunoboost Sarangani, Zamboanga Valientes and ARQ Builders Cebu.
The 12 3×3 basketball teams will be divided in groups of three. The top two teams in each group will advance to the knockout playoffs on the same day.
“The pandemic has really affected our goal of garnering valuable FIBA 3×3 points for the country in our dream of qualifying for the 2024 Paris Olympics,” said league owner Ronald Mascariñas.
“For us to reignite the fire of our stakeholders and team owners, we organized this one-day tournament which has no entry fee,” he added. “It’s about time 3×3 basketball returns.”
The Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas Invitational powered by TM will be shown at Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas’ Facebook page and on FIBA 3×3’s Youtube channel./ASC, WDJ