National 3×3 finals slated June 9 with 16 teams

THE SAMAHANG Basketbol ng Pilipinas is getting ready just in case the Fiba 3×3 basketball gets calendared into the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games.

The local basketball federation has organized a nationwide 3×3 tournament for players under 16 years old that will culminate in the national championship on June 9 at SM Mall of Asia Music Hall.

SBP executive director Sonny Barrios said Tuesday 16 teams each for boys and girls would figure in the finals of the SBP 3×3 U-16 championships from as many as 584 teams in the elimination round all over the country.

“Fiba is really working hard for 3×3 to become a regular event in the 2020 Olympics,” said Barrios in the weekly PSA Forum sponsored by Accel, Pagcor and San Miguel Corp.

The Philippines will host the Fiba 3×3 World Championship in 2018.

“We’re good at this. We’ve been playing this type of basketball even before Fiba coined the 3×3,” added the former PBA commissioner during the forum at Shakey’s.

Barrios said naturalized Gilas center Andray Blatche will make a special appearance during the tournament.