FIBA 3X3 2020 Doha Masters Feat Chooks-to-Go Manila

 

In between coaches. Tough first match. Playing against a former MVP and 3 players ranked in the top 6 of 3x3 players worldwide. 

The odds were certainly against Manila Chooks-To-Go but our boys still gave a good accounting of themselves as they fell against Liman, the #1 team in the world, 22-15.

Joshua Munzon topbilled for the Filipinos, scoring 9 points, with 8 of those points coming from long range, including 4 straight points that got Chooks back into the game when Liman threatened to blow the game wide open with a 5 point lead.

If you haven't seen Munzon play, it would be easy to dismiss him as a not-good-enough-to-be-in-the-PBA kind of player. You would be dead wrong. Munzon is a deadly shooter with range that extends to the very ends of the court, is a dynamic passer and playmaker, and is serviceable on defense.

Unfortunately, while Munzon is easily on the level of the Liman players, the rest of the squad aren't there yet. Alvin Pasaol has gotten even bigger and while he gets away with the added heft in local leagues, he was terribly exposed here as not being, well, fit enough. Think Andray Blatche in recent years. The ability is still there and evident but his physical state has stopped him from being the dominant force he once was. In this game, Pasaol airballed at least 2 shots and couldn't stay in front of his man, despite recording a highlight block. Again, the ability is there but his physical state is stopping him from displaying it all game long.

Santi Santillan and Troy Rike played their roles to the best of their abilities. Rike had the better defensive outing, showing he has the physicality and foot speed to play honest one-on-one defense while Santillan showed good instincts around the rim, snaring 3 offensive rebounds. But they are complementary players with clearly defined roles: play D, get the rebound, give it to Munzon or Pasaol, get out of their way, repeat.

Manila Chooks goes up against the hosts at about 1:45am Manila. I may not be awake by then but I think they have the talent to win against Lusail. if they do, they still make it to the quarterfinals. Win one more, they make it to the big show: the FIBA 3x3 World Tour Jeddah Finals this December.

If you want to watch the games, click this.

What The All Amateur Gilas 5 Is Leaving On The Table

By this time, our all-amateur Gilas team will be in the thick of their preparations for the November window of the FIBA Asia Cup.

But one thing that they'll be missing is the presence of hardened PBA professionals, despite the fact that they are available to play for Gilas.

Here's a quick look at four PBA players the Gilas team is leaving behind.

Christian Standhardinger - There is basically no way for Kouame to be naturalized in time for the November games and that leaves Gilas with a thin frontline, with only Isaac Go, Justine Balatazar, and Kenmark Carino comfortably manning the PF/C positions. Standhardinger is a heavyweight PBA superstar who averaged 19.8 points, 12 rebounds, and 3.8 assists in the PBA bubble, despite playing on a baaaad team. But more than that, he's a Gilas vet who starred every time he put on the Gilas jersey, even against a powerhouse team like Iran, where he scored 30 points and 12 rebounds in a losing effort. That's a lot of ability being left behind.

Kiefer Ravena - Who doesn't know what Kiefer Ravena brings to the table? Ravena is one of the most bemedaled Filipino basketball players in the league and has won several championships for our country at different levels. In the PBA bubble, Ravena started off a bit rusty, especially with his added bulk (not gonna say weight, its definitely all muscle) but he still managed to average 19.3 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 4.6 assists. He also has his share of Gilas highlights and he would have brought smarts, experience, and the clutch gene into the equation. Tough to not see that on the team.

CJ Perez - CJ Perez has continued his meteoric rise in the PBA, smashing through whatever sophomore walls stood in his way. In the bubble, he averaged 24.3points, 6.8 rebounds, and 4.27 assists. Those are MVP caliber numbers, if only Terrafirma was contending for a championship. Perez was also one of two bright spots for Gilas in the recent 2019 FIBA World Championships and we expect he would wreak more havoc against the likes of Thailand and (if ever) South Korea. So again, world-class talent we are leaving behind.

Mac Belo - Mac Belo does not have the same gaudy numbers as the others in this list but this former Gilas captain is slowly recovering his deadly form. A strong slasher with a perfectly serviceable outside jumper and a high basketball IQ, Mac Belo can fill in that Gabe Norwood, glue-guy role that lets the Gilas machine run smoother while still providing his fair share of highlights. Again, a hell of a talent to leave behind.

In conclusion...I get it. It's about the future. And I 100% support the team. But it would be nice to have them there as...insurance.