MANILA Chooks TM ended its FIBA 3×3 World Tour Doha Masters campaign with a 14-19 loss against hosts Lusail yesterday at the Al Gharafa Sports Complex.
As both teams lost against Serbian powerhouse Liman in their previous assignments, Manila and Lusail left everything on the floor to nab the remaining quarterfinals berth in Pool A.
But the Filipinos could not find answers against 6-foot-10 Senegalese Souley Ndour, who was dominant in the paint and the veteran wits of 36-year-old Greek Kostas Vasileiadis, as the home team raced to a 16-10 lead.
Joshua Munzon tried to turn things around, but time was not on their side as Manila Chooks TM suffered an early exit to the disappointment of the Filipino fans who attended in the venue.
“Appreciate all the love and support!!! Came up short of advancing to the next day but we gave it all we had out there!!,” said Munzon, who was the pool stage leading scorer with 17 points, on his Twitter account.
Ndour had 10 points while Vasileiadis added seven markers for Lusail, which finished second in the bracket with a 1-1 card.
Manila bowed to defending champion Liman, 15-22, in the first match, with Munzon leading the charge with nine points.
With the early elimination, Manila Chooks TM failed to match the quarterfinals finish of the two Philippine teams in the Doha Masters last year.
