DYLAN Ababou returns to the lineup as Pasig Chooks will run it back to the President's Cup-winning crew for the 2019 Fiba 3x3 Huaqiao International Kunshan Challenger.
Ababou will link up once again with teammates Taylor Statham, Joshua Munzon, and Troy Rike as they aim to win the level-nine tournament from May 18 to 19 in Penang, China.
"We are sending the original Pasig Kings team," said league commissioner Eric Altamirano as imports Nikola Pavlovic (swollen left hand) and Angelo Tsagarakis (semi-fractured rib) are both nursing injuries, rendering them unavailable for the tilt.
The Challenger, however, will be a good test for the top Filipino 3x3 club as they aim to qualify for the Chengdu Masters on June 1 and 2.
"For the last five months, we have pushed our players to the limit in our local league. Now, it's time to see if we can win an international tournament without guest players," said Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas 3x3 league owner Ronald Mascariñas.
Pasig Chooks is grouped in Pool A, where it rekindles its rivalry against world no. 3 Liman of Serbia and Sosnovy BorCopRosatom of Russia.
The top two teams will advance to the knockout playoffs on Sunday.
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