Photo shows (from left to right) Sonny Barrios, Strahinja Stojacic, Dejan Majstorovic, Nemanja Barac, Marko Brankovic and Chooks-to-Go President Ronald Mascariñas during the awarding ceremony.
Ub-Serbia rules Chooks FIBA 3×3 Manila Masters
WORLD No.1 Ub Huishan NE completed another dominant showing with a 20-17 victory over Liman Huishan NE in an all–Serbian showdown to capture the 2022 Chooks-to-Go FIBA 3×3 World Tour Manila Masters crown at Ayala Malls Manila Bay over the weekend.
Marko Brankovic finished with nine points and five rebounds, while Dejan Majstorovic added eight points to power Ub Huishan NE to the title and the top prize of $40,000 (P2,093,000).
It was the second straight World Tour triumph for Ub Huishan NE, which also topped the Utsunomiya leg in Japan a couple of weeks ago.
“It feels amazing.We want to prove that we are the best team in the world. And we did it,” said the 34-year-old Majstorovic, a three-time 3×3 World Cup gold medalist.
“We need to stay calm, work hard, and keep playing the same way,” added Majstorovic who was also voted as the Most Valuable Player of the Manila Masters.
Majstorovic and Brankovic struck hardest during a decisive 8-1 run that Ub comfortably ahead 15-8 with 2:52 left.
World no. 1 Strahinja Stojacic added three points, including a long two-pointer with 45.4 seconds remaining that ended Liman’s last-ditch comeback.
Stefan Kojic topscored with eight points for Liman, followed by Mihailo Vasic with five, and Aleksandar Ratkov with four.
Ub finished the two-day tournament with a perfect 5-0 record.
The top-ranked Serbian team defeated Cebu Chooks, 21-17, and Zavkhan, 22-13, for a 2-0 record in pool stage; Warsaw, 20-18, in the quarterfinals; and Melbourne, 21-20, in the semis.
Liman settled for the runner-up prize of $30,000 (P1,569,750).
The third-ranked team in the world also improved its finish from the Utsunomiya tilt, where it only ended up at fifth.
Sansar wound up third overall and earned $22,000 (P1,151,150), while Melbourne finished fourth and pocketed $16,000 (P837,200).
In the Slam Dunk Competition, Australian Brodie Stephens defeated the Philippines’ David Carlos, 7.367-5.567.
The scores:
Semifinals 1:
Ub (21) – Stojacic 7, Barac 6, Majstorovic 5, Brankovic 3.
Melbourne (10) – Steel 5, Hire 3, Wilks 2, Wagstaff 0.
Time: Barac (7:05)
Semifinals 2:
Liman (21) – Kojic 13, Vasic 4, Ratkov 3, Kilijan 1.
Sansar (11) – Ariunbold 5, Onolbaatar 4, Avarzed 1, Borgil 1.
Time: Ratkov (6:39)
Final
Ub (20) – Brankovic 9, Majstorovic 8, Stojacic 3, Barac 0.
Liman (17) – Kojic 8, Vasic 5, Ratkov 4, Kilijian 0.
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