MANILA – Roxas City pulled off the biggest shocker in the first round of the Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas 3x3 President's Cup Grand Finals, edging Sarangani, 21-17, on Friday at the Inspire Sports Academy in Calamba.
Roxas City entered the final leg of the conference winless after eight games through the first four legs, but the team's first win came at the biggest of times, stealing a quarterfinal seat from the heavily favored Sarangani side.
Roxas City closed out the game with four unanswered points to break a 17-all tie.
“Inisip lang namin yung mga talo namin nung Leg One to Leg Four. Natuto kami dun. Para sa amin talaga siguro ito. Yun talaga, sacrifice lang at collective effort (We just thought about our losses from Leg One to Leg Four. We learned from them. Maybe this is really for us. It is really only about sacrifice and collective effort),” said Gian Abrigo, who had six points in the contest.
Roxas City will face Nueva Ecija in the quarterfinals later on Friday.
Nueva Ecija opted to sit out special guest player Juan Gomez De Liano due to an ankle injury.
Meanwhile, Palayan zapped Pagadian, 21-7, Bacolod razed Bicol, 21-10, and Porac nipped Zamboanga Peninsula, 21-14, to complete the quarterfinal cast. (PNA)
