To boost Olympic hopes, Fiba-sanctioned 3×3 tournaments in PH eyed

PH 3×3 women’s and men’s team during their thanksgiving for the FIba World Cup campaign Thursday at Holiday Inn.

After the Philippines’ first stint in Fiba 3×3 World Cup, the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas and chief patron Chooks to Go have decided to form several tournaments in hopes of helping Filipinos get an outright qualification to the 2020 Olympics.

With the help of SBP, Chooks to Go will stage 3×3 leagues that will be registered with Fiba so the Philippines can earn points under the governing body’s system.

“What we learned from the Fiba officials during the World Cup is that we can organize tournaments and register those 3×3 tournaments to Fiba,” said Ronald Mascariñas, the Bounty Agro Ventures president, in Filipino Thursday during the team’s thanksgiving at Holiday Inn .

“The SBP is behind this endeavor, they’ve expressed the desire for the Philippines to have outright qualification for the 2020 Olympics and all we need right now is to flesh out the steps,” added Mascariñas.

While the Philippines doesn’t 3×3 tournaments under the Fiba ruling, the country has regularly sent representatives to several 3×3 events outside the country.

SBP has a grassroots program for 3×3 basketball called Pambansang Tatluhan that develops teams in the under-16 and under-18 age range, but this effort has yet to be registered with Fiba.

“This World Cup created really good awareness and the SBP has embraced the 3×3 format,” said SBP Deputy Executive Director Butch Antonio. “The more tournaments our country participates in the more points we have and the more chances we have of getting a slot in the 2020 Games.”

The Philippines, however, has a tough task ahead.

The 2020 Games only has eight slots for the 3×3 teams and the Philippines is ranked as the no.47 federation in the world.