Cebuano is the highest-ranked Pinoy 3x3 in the world at 72

 

He might not have stayed long in the PBA, but former Talk and Text player Mac Tallo from Cebu City has found a niche outside Asia's oldest professional basketball league.

Tallo is now a member of the Philippine 3x3 basketball men's basketball team and is playing well in local and international tournaments, making him the highest-ranked Filipino 3x3 player today.

Based on the latest FIBA ranking, Tallo is ranked the 72nd best 3x3 player globally as a member of the Chooks to Go basketball team.

Before making it big in 3x3 games, Tallo struggled, especially when he was left out in the PBA 2019.

After failing to get signed by a PBA team in 2019, Tallo brought his talent to the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League, where he played for the Bacolod Masters, Manila Stars, and currently Bicol Volcanoes.

While playing in the MPBL, 3x3 Philippine team head coach Aldin Ayo invited him to be part of the team, and the rest is history.

Despite being listed only as 6'0, Tallo thrives in 3x3 plays due to his speed, tenacity, and ball handling.

While his PBA journey might not be that bright, the Cebuano point-guard has redeemed himself by becoming the premier 3x3 player in the country today.

Davaoeno Alvin Pasaol carry Zamboanga City to Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas 3x3 league leg 2 championship

 

Alvin Pasaol.

DAVAO CITY---Burly Davaoeno forward Alvin Pasaol carried the Zamboanga Family Brand Sardines to the championship crown in leg 2 of the ongoing  Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas 3x3 league leg.

Pasaol, a native of Dona Salud here scored 11 points in their 21-11 win over the Rice Vanguards in the final of Leg 2.

The Davaoeno forward has put his game face on in the finals as he was scoring both inside and outside.

Recently, Pasaol expressed joy that he is still receiving his salary as a 3x3 basketball player in the Philippines despite the ongoing COVID-19 crisis.

Pasaol is very happy that Chook to Go still decides to give him his salary as a member of the Philippine 3x3 basketball team despite the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Sobrang laking pasasalamat namin kay Boss Ronald [Mascariñas] kasi kahit na postpone na ‘yung OQT (Olympic Qualifying Tournament) and ‘yung liga namin, tuloy-tuloy pa rin ‘yung suporta niya sa amin,”  Pasaol said.

The former scoring machine of the University of the East Red Warriors in the UAAP is happy to keep his salary since he sends a portion of it to his family in Dona Salud here.

Aside from keeping his salary, Pasaol is feeling good these days because he retained his standing as the second-best 3x3 basketball player in the Philippines.

This developed after the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) has decided to suspend the world rankings for players, teams, and federation due to the global pandemic COVID-19.

In a statement, the FIBA said with the suspension of 3x3 games in both local and international competitions they decided to freeze the ranking until the COVID-19 problem is solved.

With the latest development, Pasaol retains his ranking with 124,986 behind top-ranked 3x3 player Joshua Munzon.

The retention of his ranking is great news for Pasaol, since it allows him a slot to compete in international 3x3 competitions once the holding of sports events is allowed again in the country and

overseas.

As a member of the Red Warriors, Pasaol made a name for himself as a scoring threat who can penetrate, shoot from the outside and play inside.

With his scoring prowess, he was selected as one of the scoring leaders in the UAAP, the top collegiate basketball league in the Philippines.

After graduating from the UAAP, Pasaol, a sought after player played for the Zamboanga Brand Family Sardines in the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League.

Pasaol carried the team to the MPBL Southern division semifinals where they fall to the defending champion Davao Occidental Tigers 2-0 in their best of three playoff series.

Before making it to big in Metro Manila, Pasaol played briefly in some local leagues in Davao City where he was scouted while playing in one of the commercial teams here. (Romeo Braceros Jr.)