MANILA – Bacolod-Master Sardines faltered anew in the quarterfinals of the 2020 Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas 3×3 President’s Cup following a 21-16 loss to Family’s Brand Sardines-Zamboanga City Chooks at the INSPIRE Academy in Laguna last night.
Led by Alfred Batino, Anton Asistio, Robin Rono and Chris Lalata, the Bacolod City-based squad was able to keep in step with the leg 1 champions Zamboanga City in the early goings of the round-of-eight encounter.
However, the Zamboangueños of national 3×3 team members Alvin Pasaol, Joshua Munzon, Troy Rike and Leonard Santillan did just enough to escape with the victory and move to the semifinals.
Prior to the quarterfinals exit, Bacolod-Master Sardines had a poor start in the second leg as they suffered a 21-17 defeat against Big Boss Cement-Porac MSC to kick off their Group D campaign.
Bacolod was actually on top in that match at 17-14, but Porac slowly clawed their way back behind former Philippine Basketball Association cager Dylan Ababou, Dan Reducto, James Laput, and Ryan Monteclaro, who drained the game-clinching basket with 1:58 left in the game.
The Bacolodnons then vented its ire on Pagadian City Rocky Sports with a 22-12 domination to clinch a seat in the quarterfinals. Asistio and Batino had seven points each in Master Sardines’ win.
The Bacolod-Master Sardines hope to have a better showing in the Leg 3 of the 3×3 basketball competition slated on Sunday afternoon at the same venue./PN
