With an overhauled all-Filipino line-up, Manila Chooks! got the exposure needed from the FIBA 3×3 Ulaanbaatar Super Quest, making head trainer Chico Lanete believe his charges are far from done.
The Filipino 3×3 cagers are shifting their focus on the Manila Masters set next month at home soil, determined to live up to their lofty billing.
“We need to focus more on finishing the game. May mga adjustments lang na kailangang gawin especially bago pa rin sa amin si Paul (Desiderio) and CJ (Payawal),” Lanete said after Manila Chooks! fell 15-21 to world No. 9 Sansar MMC Energy of Mongolia last Sunday.
“We will make sure we are ready para sa Manila Masters lalo pa sa home court natin ito gagawin,” he added.
Manila Chooks! wound up seventh in the tough 12-team field, with Japanese side Utsunomiya BREX ruling the tourney at the expense of Futian of China.
Chooks-to-Go president Ronald is convinced the team has what it takes.
“Our team has shown significant improvement in every tournament they compete in,” the amiable godfather of Philippine 3×3 said. “That close quarterfinals loss against world No. 9 Sansar showed that with more exposure to high level tournaments, we can match the firepower of the top 3×3 teams in the world.”
“Coach Chico and the team continue to make the necessary adjustments in preparation for the May 20-21 FIBA 3×3 Manila Masters when we protect our home court against the top teams in the world.”
Desiderio, who was under the weather in the tiff, showed the way anew for Manila Chooks! against the Mongolians with eight points, while Mac Tallo added six.
The former University of the Philippines standout maintained he and his teammate could only get better.
“Playing in an international tournament is a good opportunity to assess my skills and see the team’s capability to compete with our international counterparts,” he said. “It has been a very fulfilling experience and a learning opportunity for me, coming from an ACL injury, I need to work on my conditioning.
“I’m still adjusting, especially since it was an international competition and 3×3 is a fast game and the level of competition is high. So, you need to prepare dahil kung wala ka sa kondisyon, mahirap.”
