Cebu Chooks opens Dubai Super Quest campaign with loss to Riga

CEBU Chooks put up a valiant stand but fell short against the fourth-ranked 3×3 team I the world, Latvia, losing 21-17, in their opening game in the 2022 FIBA 3×3 Dubai Expo Super Quest on Thursday night at the Expo Sports Arena in Dubai.Cebu Chooks fell behind, 10-3, as the world’s top 3×3 player Nauris Miezis canned a couple of shots from beyond the arc. However, Filipino-Canadian big man Brandon Ramirez gave Cebu Chooks a spark, his consecutive long twos cutting the deficit down to two, 13-11.From there, the two teams went back and forth but Miezis knocked down a triple to put Riga just two points away from taking the game. Tallo scored on a nifty move inside to pull Cebu Chooks closer but Miezis knocked down a one-legged deuce to seal the win for Riga with 52.5 seconds to spare.Miezis had 18 points in the contest built on five deuces.Both Ramirez and Nzeusseu led the way for Cebu with six points each. Tallo had three while Huang added two. (JNP)