MANILA, Philippines—The PBA’s inaugural 3×3 tournament will remain postponed even if the league resumes play in October.
As per PBA.ph, the league is focused on trying to get the 12 teams back to training as it eyes October resumption of the PBA Philippine Cup, which was paused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Along with 3×3 competition, the PBA has also decided to cancel this season’s PBA All-Star festivities and is likely to scrap all import conferences.
Deputy Commissioner Eric Castro said the league is looking to launch the 3×3 competition in 2021.
The event is looking to help Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas develop the discipline especially with 3×3 basketball set to make its debut in the Tokyo Olympics as a regular sport.
“We’re supposed to start the 3×3 Philippine Cup, but probably we can do that next year,” said Castro in Filipino. “We’ll see when we can start it.”
The PBA has extended its help to 3×3 basketball, sending pros like Mo Tautuaa, CJ Perez, Jason Perkins, and Chris Newsome to the 2019 Southeast Asian Games where they won the gold.
Christian Standhardinger, Roger Pogoy, Troy Rosario, and Stanley Pringle, also Gilas Pilipinas members, have also played halfcourt basketball and represented Philippines in the 2018 Fiba 3×3 World Cup held at Philippine Arena.