BALANGA Chooks-to-Go bowed out of the 2019 Tinkoff Moscow Challenger after dropping a 21-14 defeat at the hands of host Moscow on Friday at Gorky Park.
Balanga finished its group in the Wildcard Phase with a 1-1 record but ultimately crashed out of the tournament after falling to the vengeful hometown favorites who they beat in the 2019 Doha Masters.
The Chooks Pilipinas 3x3 Presidents Cup runners-up could not sustain their hot start in the tournament after they made quick work of Ukraine’s Odessa Basket, 21-9, in their tournament debut.
The short window of rest for the visiting team took its toll as they started out flat, allowing the home team to move ahead 8-3.
It was a lead that the hosts never relinqushed as the closest Balanga could ever get was within four, 16-12.
Travis Franklin led Balanga with eight points as Karl Dehesa added four.
Alvin Pasaol could not maintain his fiery form from his 10-point performance against Odessa as he finished with just two points.
Semen Debda led the way for Moscow with 12 points while Mintautas Bulanovas chipped in six as they move to the main draw later in the evening.
However, all’s not lost for the Philippines as Pasig Chooks-to-Go takes on Antwerp and Riga at 11 p.m and 12:25 a.m. (Philippine time), respectively.
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