MANILA – Bacolod-Master Sardines settled for bronze in Leg 3 of the 2020 Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas 3×3 President’s Cup at the INSPIRE Sports Academy in Calamba, Laguna on Sunday evening.
The team, headed by Robin Rono, Alfred Batino, Chris Lalata, and Jul-Ashri Ignacio, went toe-to-toe with the eventual leg champions Butuan-Uling Roasters in the semifinals, but the latter escaped with a 21-18 win.
For finishing at third place, which is the team’s highest after being booted out in the quarterfinals round in the first two legs, the Bacolod-Master Sardines took home a cash prize of P20,000.
Prior to their semifinals stint, Bacolod-Master Sardines pulled off a stunner in the quarterfinals round with a 21-20 escape over Sarangani Marlins behind late hits by Ignacio.
In the preliminary round, the Master Sardines opened its campaign with a 21-15 victory over Bicol-PAXFUL 3×3 before suffering a close 17-21 defeat at the hands of Legs 1 and 2 champion Zamboanga City.
Meanwhile, history was made in the TM side events as Petra Cement-Roxas ZN’s Janus Lozada hit on all of his 10 shots to rule the Two-Point Shootout. In the Slam Dunk Contest, ‘Air’ David Carlos defended his crown.
Leg 4 of the FIBA 3×3-endorsed tournament kicks off on Tuesday afternoon still inside the ‘CalamBubble.’ The championship round, on the other hand, will be on Oct. 30 at the same venue./PN
