MANILA -- Basilan staved off being undermanned and trounced their Mongolian opponents in the qualifying round of the FIBA 3x3 Haining Challenger in China on Saturday.
The Steel, known in the tournament as Isabela City Chooks, had to play with only three men in the entirety of both games as Franky Johnson's visa was approved a bit too late.
But the troika of Marcus Hammonds, Roosevelt Adams, and Gab Banal defied the odds and even went 2-0 in their qualifying pool to join Balanga Chooks in the main draw.
Hammonds and Adams connived in dealing Sukhbataar a 12-21 defeat.
Banal then came alive in the other game against Taikhar, scoring half of Isabela's points in an 18-15 win.
Isabela will play Gagarin at the start of their respective campaigns in the pool stages at 3:20 p.m. Saturday. (PNA)
