THE new-look Manila Chooks TM is embracing an “underdog” mentality in the FIBA 3×3 Montreal Masters.

Slotted in Pool D, Manila Chooks TM will face world no. 8 Antwerp of Belgium at 12:45 a.m. today (Manila time) followed by no. 10 Edmonton of Canada at 6:50 a.m. at the Place des Festivals in Montreal, Canada.

Though the opposition is much taller than the quartet of Mark Yee, Mac Tallo, Zachy Huang, and Dennis Santos, Manila Chooks TM head trainer Aldin Ayo will make up for it with chemistry.

“One of the strengths of this team is the chemistry that we have,” Ayo said during yesterday’s Radyo5’s “Power and Play” program. “We were able to see them surrender to the system that we are implementing.”

“Yung mentality also is there because they know that they are the underdogs. Yung kakulangan sa height, pupunuan nila ng determination yan to win,” he added.

In their first tournament back in the Doha Masters last March, Manila Chooks TM was not able to make it to the main draw. It was an eye-opener for the team.

This time around, the Filipinos made sure that they have scouted their pool mates well.

“Yung first game natin versus Antwerp, familiar tayo sa players nila so we were able to study their individual tendencies,” said Ayo about the Belgians, who consist of 6-foot-5 Nick Celes (World No. 23), Thibaut Vervoort (No. 28), 6-foot-6 Thierry Marien (No. 43), and 6-foot-6 Rafael Bogaerts (No. 72).

“Yung Edmonton naman, it’s technically a new team. Si Steve Sir is the only player they retained while adding a Dutch import,” he added.

Edmonton revamped its lineup with Ross Bekkering, who played for The Netherlands in the Tokyo Olympics 3×3 competition, leading the charge together with Alex Johnson and Adika Peter-McNeilly.

The top two teams in the pool will advance to the crossover playoffs the following day.

All teams have yet to see the Place des Festivals venue, only getting to do so during the start of the event.

Despite its predicament, Manila Chooks TM will give nothing but its very best for flag and country.

“Sana makapagbigay kami ng kaligayahan sa kababayan natin at ma-entertain sila,” said Ayo.

“Lahat ng ginagawa natin is pointed towards the 2024 Paris Olympics,” he added.