BOCAUE, Bulacan—David Carlos became the first Filipino to advance to the second round of the dunk contest of the Fiba 3x3 World Cup on Sunday at the Philippine Arena.
Carlos scored 47 points in his two dunks to make it to the second round set to be played on Tuesday where the Filipino professional dunker will get a shot at one of two spots in the finale.
Frenchman Guy Dupuy, the first champion of the TV series Dunk King, topped the qualifying round with a score of 53, while Vadym Piddubchenko of Ukraine finished second with 48. Dmytro Krivenko of Ukraine also clinched a finals seat with a score of 47.
PBA slam dunk champion Rey Guevarra also participated in the contest but finished only sixth among seven dunkers.
Carlos clinched a seat in the finals after a reverse two-hand dunk after leaping over six persons to earn a 26 - the second-best dunk in the second round.
Carlos threw down a dunk over four persons in the first round to get a 21.
The 30-year-old Carlos, who once won championships with San Sebastian high school teams in the NCAA, is coming off a knee injury and failed to make any dunks in his last dunk contest in the NBTC.
“Nakita niyo naman sa NBTC, as in zero ako because of my knee. I’m happy to make it to the final day and represent our country,” said Carlos.
Carlos said he still have dunks in his arsenal for the second round.
“Ang goal ko is to make it to Day Two kasi wala pang nakakagawa nun. For me, nagawa ko na ‘yung goal ko. I have to set the goal higher. Pero right now, I’m going for the bronze,” Carlos said.
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