Manila North created a huge upset in the FIBA 3x3 World Tour tournament in Abu Dhabi with a 16-14 victory to enter the quarter finals and oust Team Doha of Qatar.
FIBA reported that ?faced with a do-or-die situation ?Manila North led by star Calvin Abueva of the Alaska Aces in the PBA and a key member of the Gilas Pilipinas Philippine national team that won a silver medal in the recent FIBA Asia Championships losing to China in the finals, shone in front of what was described as ?a galvanized audience.?
It said some Filipino fans had left from Dubai the previous night while others arrived several hours before the game and they met to support their very own Manila North team.
FIBA reported that ?things looked bleak for the squad in Pool D after they dropped their first game against Kranj of Slovakia who themselves lost to Doha ?but banked on star Calvin Abueva who brought the crowd to its feet? with 7 points and a two point lead 16-14 to set-up a quarter final game against the awesome Novi Sad Al Whada anchored by Dusan Domovic Bulut who led all scores on the opening day with 20 points. Manila North is ranked No. 12 in the tournament while Novi Sad is the top rated team.
They face each other later tonight, Manila Time in the last game of the day.
Abueva will be backed up by among others, Alaska teammate Vic Manuel and Troy Rosario who was named a member of the national 17-man pool two days ago by the PBA at the request of coach Tab Baldwin.
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