Source : June Navarro Philippine Daily InquirerMANILA, Philippines – Three-on-three basketball, a typical sight on Metro Manila’s densely populated streets and alleys, will soon be a major Fiba tournament.
And according to top Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas officials, the country will play a significant role in spreading the popularity of the discipline worldwide.
“We were chosen by Fiba as a model for its 3×3 event,” said SBP executive director Sonny Barrios.
Popularly known as three-on-three street basketball, Fiba, the world governing body in the sport, has renamed it 3×3.
The event is now a major Fiba tournament, which culminates in a world championship after the zonal and continental qualifiers.
Handpicked as the discipline’s ambassador, the Philippines is more than capable to host Fiba 3×3, Barrios pointed out.
“Basketball is being played here everywhere. Even on the streets,” said Barrios, who touched base with the Fiba top brass along with SBP consultant Moying Martelino in a meeting held in Geneva, Switzerland, last month.
“In fact, I was telling Fiba officials that 3×3 is regularly being played by people from all walks of life in the Philippines,” he added.
Fiba 3×3 first burst into global consciousness during the 1st Youth Olympic Games in Singapore last year where the Philippine team wound up ninth among 20 countries.
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