MANILA – Zamboanga City claimed the overall championship of the Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas 3x3 President's Cup after beating Nueva Ecija, 22-19, in the grand finals at the Inspire Sports Academy in Calamba, Laguna on Friday.
Zamboanga City had to withstand a late run from Nueva Ecija to clinch the title.
It came to within match point after taking a 20-16 lead with 2:14 left but Jai Reyes scored on a layup and a long tom to trim the lead down to one, 20-19, with 1:30 left, not to mention Alvin Pasaol missing two free throws.
Nueva Ecija had an outright chance to steal the win but Gab Banal missed a crucial deuce, paving the way for Joshua Munzon to finally seal the win with a deuce at the 1:11 mark of the game.
Munzon and Pasaol each finished with seven points to lead Zamboanga City, which won PHP1 million for ruling the season-opening conference.
Troy Rike and Santi Santillan each chipped in four markers.
Reyes top-scored for Nueva Ecija, which settled for the PHP300,000 prize pot for the second-place finish, with eight points, while Tonino Gonzaga added six and Banal put up five.
Reyes, Gonzaga, and Banal were forced to play the full game as Mac Sabellina fractured his rib in Nueva Ecija's semifinal stunner over Butuan.
Zamboanga City, on the other hand, avenged its Leg 3 quarterfinal defeat to Pasig in the other semifinal game to make the "Million Peso Game".
It will next play in the FIBA 3x3 World Tour Doha Masters next month as part of Munzon and Pasaol's continuous buildup for the FIBA 3x3 Olympic Qualifying Tournament next year.
Box Scores
Zamboanga City: 22 - Pasaol 7, Munzon 7, Rike 4, Santillan 4
Nueva Ecija: 19 – Reyes 8, Gonzaga 6, Banal 5 (PNA)
