In a rough and tumble game in the quarter finals of the FIBA 3x3 World Tour competition in Abu Dhabi, an outgunned Manila North squad lost to favorites Novisad AlWahad of the UAE 21-13 and were ousted last night before a predominantly Filipino crowd at the outdoors venue at the Corniche. A high-traffic leisure area on the shores of the Arab Gulf.
FIBA reported that the UAE team ?had to defeat the city?s entire Filipino community which came to support Manila North and their star player Calvin ?The Beat? Abueva in the quarter finals.?
After the Filipinos scrambled to tie the score at 9-9 with 5:38 remaining, the much smaller Manila North players fell prey to the inside game of the Novisad players who made some big outside shots and with flawless free throw shooting raced to a 17-10 lead with 4:02 to play.
A succession of free throws enabled the Novisad team to pull away to a 21-13 lead when the game was stopped.
The team made up of all Serbian players who were led by world No. 1 Domovic Bulut who was named MVP was made up of the four top-rated players in the world who went on to win the title and the first prize of $30,00 when they beat Kranj of Slovakia 17-14 in the finals. Manila North which ultimately finished sixth won $8,000.
Manila North was led by ?The Beast? Calvin Abueva, his Alaska Aces teammate Vic Manuel, newcomer Troy Rosario and Karl Dehesa.
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