NBA all-star guards Eric Gordon of the New Orleans Pelicans and James Harden of the Houston Rockets. AFP FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines – NBA All-star guard James Harden of the Houston Rockets and Eric Gordon of the New Orleans Pelicans are set to headline the NBA 3X Philippines 2013 from July 26 to 28, NBA and partner Sprite announced on Friday.
“I’m excited to return to the Philippines” said Harden, who was here in 2011 for a couple of exhibition games. “Filipinos have an unmatched passion for basketball and I look forward to meeting the fans.”
The competitive 3-on-3 tournament features groups for boys under-18 years old, U-16 and U-13 and girls U-18 and U-16, while an open category is set for men and women basketball enthusiasts.
Recently, the Philippines took home the 3-on-3 championship in the Fiba Asia youth tournament, a testament that Filipinos excel in this variant of basketball.
The NBA 3X Philippines 2012 saw a record demand with over 250 waitlisted teams hoping to get into the tournament.
Registration for this year’s event begins on June 20 on a first-come, first-served basis. Fees for the age divisions run at P1,000 per team, and for open divisions at P1,600 per team.
Harden and Gordon are tapped to help with the basketball clinics and to interact with their Filipino fans, according to the NBA.
Other activities scheduled are slam dunk contest, skills challenges, 3-point shootouts and autograph sessions among others.
Including the Philippines, NBA 3X will be conducted in 14 countries outside of the United States this summer.