Chooks FIBA 3×3 Manila Masters return on May 28-29
THE International Basketball Federation (FIBA) 3×3 World Tour Masters will make a return to the Philippines this year with two stops courtesy of 3×3 basketball patron Chooks-to-Go.
As announced by FIBA 3×3 over the weekend, the country will be home to two of 13 World Tour destinations starting with the Chooks-to-Go FIBA 3×3 Manila Masters on May 28 and 29.
The first-ever Chooks-to-Go FIBA 3×3 Cebu Masters will then follow suit on Oct. 1 and 2.
But more than that, the events featuring Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas teams will also be instrumental in the country’s quest for the 2024 Paris Olympics.
“Since 2019, the goals of Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas 3×3 is to expose the Filipino basketball player to world-class competition while bringing quality 3×3 basketball to the fans,” said Chooks-to-Go president Ronald Mascariñas.
“Two years before the Paris Olympics, we need to garner FIBA 3×3 points to qualify for the tournament or the Olympic Qualifying Tournament. By hosting the top-level tournaments, we get maximum points while also giving our players more experience and mileage in international 3×3.”
This will be the first stop of the World Tour Masters in the country since the Manila Masters in 2014 and 2015.
Manila West, led by Terrence Romeo, ruled the 2014 edition while the Calvin Abueva-bannered Manila North finished at second in 2015 to make the World Tour Finals in two straight years.
Utsunomiya, a city in France, Prague, Lausanne, Debrecen, Montreal, Chengdu, Jeddah, Hong Kong and Macau are the other World Tour stops with Abu Dhabi hosting the finals in December. — John Bryan Ulanday
