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The Manila ChooksTM were ejected from the 2020 FIBA 3X3 Doha World Tour Masters after suffering a 14-19 loss at the hands of home team Lusail on Saturday at the Al Gharafa Sports Complex in Doha, Qatar.
The loss was the Filipino team’s second in a row after starting their campaign with a 15-22 loss to the best team in the world, Liman.
In their second match, the Qatari team made the most of their height advantage, leaning on 6’10ft giant Souley Ndour of Senegal to build a 5-2 opening lead. Cebuano Leonard Santillan tried to lift Manila, scoring in a jam before rejecting Ndour’s attempt.
Alvin Pasaol joined the party with a bucket of his own and a block on Ndour as well. However, the Davao native injured his right shin upon landing. It was then that Lusail walked away.
Behind Ndour’s dominance in the paint and the veteran wit of the 36-year-old Greek Kostas Vasileiadis, the home side took a 10-16 lead and never looked back.
Joshua Munzon led Manila with eight points and five rebounds, while Santillán and Pasaol had three and two markers, respectively. Troy Rike, who was injured after a collision with Ndour in the middle of the game, had one point and two rebounds.
In their first game, the Filipino team found themselves trailing by seven, 5-12, before Munzon helped them close to one with a barrage of long two-point shots. However, Liman used his size, leaning on Mihailo Vasic and Stefan Kojic, who are 6ft 6in, to stop his bleeding.
Although Alvin Pasaol tried to keep Manila afloat, Stefan Stojacic, who is Gilas 3×3 head coach, closed the door for any comeback. The 2017 World Tour MVP knocked down the game-sealing deuce with 2:22 to spare to sweep Group A and advance to the knockout playoffs on Saturday. (JNP)
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