By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña
This is why Mac Tallo is the country’s no.1 ranked 3×3 player.
The prolific scorer from Southwestern University led the Cebu Chooks squad against the visiting Mongolian team Sansar MMC Energy, 17-15, to clinch the championship title in the 2022 Chooks-to-Go FIBA 3×3 Asia Pacific Super Quest.
Tallo’s consistent shooting from the field and his delivery in the clutch sparked a Cebu Chooks run after the MMC Energy took the lead, 14-13, with 2:36 left for the gold medal match.
30 seconds after losing the lead, the deadly Tallo sank a momentum-halting three-pointer which helped them get back the lead.
The Philippine representatives then put on a defensive masterclass and held team Sansar to just one point in the last two minutes.
Tallo then buried the game-winning layup that increased Cebu Chooks’ lead to two and put the pressure back to Sansar who failed to score a single basket at the end of regulation.
“The team deserved this after everything they went through for the past two years. But there are still more games to be won. This is just the start for the team,” said head coach Aldin Ayo.
Mike Harry Nzeusseu also played huge for Cebu Chooks and backstopped Tallo with seven points including the much-needed second-chance points against the big bodies of Sansar.
Meanwhile, reinforcements Zach Huang and Brandon Ramirez each scored two points and were responsible for Cebu Chooks’ gallant defensive hold when Nzeusseu was on the bench.
Enkhbaatar Onolbaatar led Sansar’s comeback bid and matched Tallo’s game-high eight-point production to help his squad take home 250,000 pesos.
Cebu Chooks on the other hand raised the championship trophy and were awarded the grand cash prize of 500,000 pesos.
