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PH shatters FIBA 3x3 record

ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2019/sports/01/14/20190114-fiba.jpg?ext=.jpg"/><figcaption>Over 3,000 kids participated in the two-day 3x3 event in Cebu. Handout photo</figcaption></figure></div>MANILA, Philippines – History now awaits Philippine basketball.The Sisters of Mary School (SMS) Girlstown hosted the last six legs of the inaugural Chooks-to-Go/Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) 3x3 basketball tournament – and made sure that the Philippines would set a new FIBA record for most number of participants in a 3x3 game.A total of 1,656 girls turned out, registered in the FIBA 3x3 play app, and participated in the Under-18 tournament held in Talisay City, Cebu.The two-day event had a combined 3,036 participants – shattering the previous FIBA record of 1,898.&quot;When we were just in the planning stages of the event, we expected that we will break the record. But we did not expect that it would be by a wide margin,&quot; shared Chooks-to-Go president Ronald Mascariñas.&quot;Girlstown made sure that the record will be owned by the country and the country should be forever grateful to them,&quot; he added.With the high turnout for Girlstown, the project directors of the event, headed by SBP&#x27;s Ryan Betia, Xander Gubat, Region XIII director Jerry Abuyabor, and SMS athletic director Van Parmis, split the tournament into six legs.The Leg 6-G1 squad composed of the Janier twins (Gleafel and Gleagen), Aianna Apostol, and Desiree Salvado outlasted 441 squads to become the overall champions. They outlasted Leg 4 champions G1 composed of Jane Madria, Jenifer Mahusay, Jenny Amor, and Ivy Garnica.The event was played across 36 courts.As the two-day tourney ended, the SBP expressed its sincerest gratitude to SMS for opening its doors to them.&quot;To be able to give back to those thousands of kids through my passion in basketball and to serve our country as well is more than fulfilling,&quot; said coach Mark Solano.&quot;Well for the SBP, all the ranking points will definitely help the federation&#x27;s 3x3 world ranking for us to fulfill our Olympic dream!&quot;&quot;No words can describe ang nararamdamang namin ngayon lalo na pag nakita ko yung mga ngiti ng mga bata. Sobrang fulfulling,&quot; added coach Ryan Betia, who hails from Cebu.Now, the waiting game begins for Chooks-to-Go and SBP as FIBA will look through the documents and verify if the record has been set.&quot;Now, we await FIBA 3X3. The SBP is currently in the process of sending over the proper documentation to FIBA&#x27;s offices. We are confident that we have done everything right and, more importantly, get the points to qualify for the Olympics,&quot; said Mascariñas.&quot;And we are proposing to make this a yearly event,&quot; he also said.For more sports coverage, visit the <a href="http://sports.abs-cbn.com">ABS-CBN Sports website</a>.