CLOCK struck midnight for the Philippines in the Doha Masters of the 2019 Fiba 3x3 World Tour as Balanga Chooks bowed to world No. 1 Liman, 21-9, in their quarterfinal clash on Friday at Katara Amphitheatre in Qatar.
The Serbians stamped their class against the Asia Pacific Super Quest runner-up, breaking away for an early 9-5 lead which ballooned to 20-8 before Aleksandar Ratkov finished the game with a wide-open layup with 3:08 left.
Liman now moves on to face rival and reigning World Tour champion Novi Sad in the semifinals as Balanga was left in the wayside after an impressive run in the preliminaries, just like fellow Philippine entry Pasig.
Mihailo Vasic paced the Serbian powerhouse with seven points, as Ratkov and Stefan Kojic both had five in the victory.
Travis Franklin was held to just four points to carry the fight for Balanga Chooks after scoring 24 in Day One. Karl Dehesa also added three, as Alvin Pasaol got a pair in the defeat.
Santi Santillan bucked a sprained left ankle to suit up in the game, yet the Philippine squads were unable to replicate their dream run a day prior after Pasig Chooks suffered a 21-15 loss to world No. 3 Riga Ghetto.
The scores:
LIMAN 21 - Vasic 7, Ratkov 5, Kojic 5, Kovacevic 4.
BALANGA CHOOKS 9 - Franklin 4, Dehesa 3, Pasaol 2, Santillan 0.