Top caliber 3×3 action will be in store for Filipino fans as the Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas 3×3 International Standalone Quest takes place at the Ayala Malls Solenad in Sta. Rosa, Laguna on September 16.
Three teams from the Philippines – Cebu Chooks, Manila Chooks, and Butuan Chooks – will battle against five foreign teams. At stake for the winners will be much-coveted spots to the most prestigious 3×3 event in the world, the FIBA 3×3 World Tour Cebu Masters which is scheduled on October 1-2.
Here are some notable players to watch out for fans who will be trooping to Laguna to watch the games live on Friday.
𝘋𝘶𝘭𝘨𝘶𝘶𝘯 𝘌𝘯𝘬𝘩𝘣𝘢𝘵 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘋𝘦𝘭𝘨𝘦𝘳𝘯𝘺𝘢𝘮 𝘋𝘢𝘷𝘢𝘢𝘴𝘢𝘮𝘣𝘶𝘶 (𝘜𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘣𝘢𝘢𝘵𝘢𝘳, 𝘔𝘰𝘯𝘨𝘰𝘭𝘪𝘢)
There are a number of reasons why Ulaanbaatar is one of the best 3×3 teams in the world. One reason is that they have two of the best 3×3 players in the world.
Six-foot-three Dulguun Enkhbat is currently 25th in the individual world rankings. He was named the 2017 FIBA3x3 Asia Cup when Mongolia emerged champion.
Six-foot-four Delgernyam Davaasambuu is the 29th ranked FIBA3x3 player in the world. The bull-strong Davaasambuu is the captain of both Ulanbaatar and the Mongolian national 3×3 team.
Enkhbat and Davaasambuu were the anchors of the Mongolian squad which finished 9th in the 2022 FIBA 3×3 World Cup held last June in Antwerpen, Belgium.
Ulaanbaatar is coming off a 10th place finish in the Penang Challenger last weekend where Cebu Chooks made the quarterfinals. This was a disappointing result for Ulaanbaatar which just last August placed 5th in the World Tour Lausanne Masters and followed it up with a 6th place finish in the World Tour Montreal Masters.
Enkhbat and Davaasambuu will definitely be looking for a big bounce back in Sta. Rosa in the Chooks-to-Go Quest.
𝘛𝘰𝘮𝘰𝘺𝘢 𝘖𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘢𝘪 (𝘚𝘢𝘪𝘵𝘢𝘮𝘢, 𝘑𝘢𝘱𝘢𝘯)
Tomoya Ochiai is one of Japan’s top 3×3 players.
He is a member of the Japan national 3×3 team which finished 6th in the Tokyo Olympics. He represented Japan in the 2022 FIBA 3×3 World Cup in Belgium and in the 2022 FIBA 3×3 Asia Cup MVP where they also placed 6th.
In 2018, he helped Japan clinch a bronze medal in the FIBA 3×3 Asia Cup held in Shenzhen, China.
Ochiai also sees action in Division 2 of the Japan B. League where he is part of the Koshigaya Alphas.
𝘛𝘪𝘯 𝘊𝘩𝘶𝘯 𝘏𝘰𝘯𝘨 (𝘒𝘶𝘢𝘭𝘢 𝘓𝘶𝘮𝘱𝘶𝘳 𝘈𝘴𝘦𝘦𝘭, 𝘔𝘢𝘭𝘢𝘺𝘴𝘪𝘢)
Tin Chun Hong has been a fixture in 3×3 basketball since 2013 when he first represented Malaysia in the 1st FIBA Asia 3×3 Under18 Championship.
He was part of the Malaysian team that placed 4th in the FIBA 3×3 Asia World Cup qualifier held last March and the FIBA 3×3 Asia Cup held last July.
In the ABL 3×3 International Champions Cup held in Bali, Indonesia last April, he helped Harimau Malaya reach the finals where they were beaten by the host team Indonesia Patriots A.
He played double duty for Malaysia in the Vietnam SEA Games where he led them to a 5th place in 3×3 basketball. He averaged 15.5 points in 5 on 5 basketball for Malaysia which also placed 5th.
𝘈𝘷𝘪𝘳𝘮𝘦𝘥 𝘓𝘩𝘢𝘨𝘷𝘢𝘢 (𝘡𝘢𝘩𝘷𝘬𝘢𝘯, 𝘔𝘰𝘯𝘨𝘰𝘭𝘪𝘢)
The 21-year-old Avirmed Lhagvaa is one of Mongolia’s most promising 3×3 players.
He is currently the 111th ranked player in the world rankings, making him one of the three youngest players ranked among the top 115 in the world.
He is part of the Mongolian Under-21 national team.
He has played in the Philippines as part of the Zahvkan squad which joined the recent FIBA 3×3 World Tour Manila Masters.
𝘔𝘢𝘤 𝘛𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘰 (𝘊𝘦𝘣𝘶 𝘊𝘩𝘰𝘰𝘬𝘴, 𝘗𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘱𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘴)
One of the most exciting young names in 3×3 basketball happens to be a Filipino.
At 90th in the world, Mac Tallo is the highest ranked Filipino in the FIBA 3×3 rankings. After the FIBA 3×3 World Tour Manila Masters last May where he led Cebu Chooks to a quarterfinal finish, Tallo reached a career-high 72nd in the world rankings, the highest individual ranking in history for a Filipino.
Tallo was the leading scorer for Cebu Chooks in the FIBA 3×3 Lipik Challenger held in Croatia last July. He was even more sensational in the Penang Challenger held last week. He dropped 12 points to tow Cebu Chooks to an 18-15 win over Zavhkan. In the knockout quarterfinals, Tallo was unstoppable with 14 points as he almost willed Cebu Chooks to an upset before falling to world number 9 Princeton, 17-22.
Cheer for our #ManokNgBayan by heading to the Activity Center of Ayala Malls Solenad on Friday, September 16! Games begin at 11:00 AM!
Catch the games LIVE on the Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas or the YouTube channel of FIBA 3×3!
