Officials from the SBP and Fiba launch the logo for the 2018 Fiba 3×3 World Cup. Photo by Randolph B. Leongson
The Philippines is looking to make waves by parading the best team possible when it hosts the 2018 Fiba 3×3 World Cup on June 8 to 12 at Philippine Arena.
With still a few months to go before tournament, the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) is already in the process of coming up with a competitive roster.
“We’re looking at being able to field the best team we can field. The 3×3 game is very different from the 5-on-5, so we expect to do well in this coming tournament,” said SBP executive director Sonny Barrios in the event launch Thursday at Bonifacio High Street.
“We still don’t have a team. We will have to sit down. We have been talking about this for the past week also. Coach Eric Altamirano has been the one in charge of the 3×3 program of our national team. But coach Chot Reyes, as the overall national team head coaches’ leader, will be part of the discussion,” he said.
Last year, the Philippines finished 11th in the 2017 Fiba 3×3 World Cup in Nantes, France with the team represented by Kiefer Ravena, Jeron Teng, JR Quiñahan, and Jeron Teng.
Barrios said that this early, players have already expressed their intentions to be part of the 3×3 team.
“It’s very heartwarming because without naming names, we’re getting a lot of volunteers from the PBA, especially from those who have already played 3×3 here and abroad. We at SBP pride ourselves that everyone who played 3×3 have improved when they returned to their mother teams,” he said.
While this year’s World Cup is not a qualifier for any major tournaments, it is a good test for Filipinos ahead of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, where 3×3 basketballl will be played for the first time.