The sports scene, both local and
international, has been slowly but surely getting back on its feet to begin
playing games again while the COVID-19 pandemic is still around. Steps to
prevent sporting events from being potential spreaders of the coronavirus have
ranged from extremely limited spectator admission to barring them from the
stands entirely, while some leagues have sequestered their teams and players in
“bubble environments” to practice and play in. In the Philippines the most that
pro leagues like the PBA have been allowed is practicing with health protocols
implemented. During this time, these already-professional circuits have been
joined with a newly-professionalized league.
Yahoo News tells us that the Philippine Games and Amusement Board
(GAB) has just approved the status of Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas 3x3 as a fully-fledged
professional league for three-on-three basketball. The accreditation was
publicized in a live-stream to the official Facebook page of Chooks-to-Go
Pilipinas this past Wednesday, July 29. GAB chair Baham Mitra and CTGP commissioner
Eric Altamirano gave statements regarding the approval of the organization’s
request to turn pro. Following Mitra’s formal pronouncement, Altamirano
expressed thanks to the GAB on behalf of the league.
Following the efforts of FIBA to
have official inclusion of 3x3 basketball in the 2020 Tokyo Summer Olympics,
poultry company Bounty Agro Ventures announced that it would work with the
Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP), the FIBA-recognized national basketball governing
body, to form a then-semi-pro 3x3 league where Filipinos can play the
usually-informal basketball format using standardized FIBA rules. This would qualify
league players to join the FIBA 3x3 World Tour from which they could gain qualification
points for a shot to field a 3x3 squad with Team Philippines for the Tokyo Olympics.
The league was named after Bounty Agro’s flagship roast chicken retail,
Chooks-to-Go.
Thus far, the efforts of CTGP to
hone players in FIBA-format 3x3 basketball have paid off. With the Olympics postponed
until next year because of the COVID pandemic, the national 3x3 team will have
to wait as well for 2021 to participate in the 3x3 Olympic Qualifiers in
Vienna, Austria. Commisioner Altamirano is very optimistic with the prospects
of Filipino players to excel in this new Olympic sport, of which only 16 national
teams were slotted into the qualifiers where they will be reduced further. It
only shows that Filipinos can excel in this, considering we’re pretty short,”
he says, adding that he also feels height offers no real advantage in 3x3
compared to 5x5/full-court.
Now that Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas
3x3 is a pro league, Altamirano envisions it as an alternative career venue for
aspiring professional basketball players to shoot for, if not with the PBA or
other, still-semi-pro 5x5 conferences.
Image from Business World Online
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