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| Rack Sports |
By Ric Arlos
QUEZON CITY--Thirty-two collegiate basketball teams, spearheaded by defending NCAA and UAAP champions Colegio de San Juan de Letran Knights and Far Eastern University Tamaraws, will clash for the maiden edition of Intercollegiate 3x3 Invitationals (i3i) to be held at Xavier School Gym and SM Mall of Asia Arena Music Hall on March 19 and 20.
In a press conference held at a restaurant in Tomas Morato on Wednesday, Kiefer Ravena, the original proponent of i3i, told the press that he took the idea of forming the said tournament from his experience in Qatar while playing for FIBA's 3x3 competition.
He then formed a group together with his friends called "RackSports", which later on sought the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas' endorsement of the tourney. They are aiming to complete the gap among the country's 3x3 tournaments.
He then formed a group together with his friends called "RackSports", which later on sought the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas' endorsement of the tourney. They are aiming to complete the gap among the country's 3x3 tournaments.
Meanwhile, i3i allows each group to form three teams, with a minimum requirement of being currently enrolled in their school for the semester. Foreign and local recruits are also allowed to join the said competition. Team coaches, on the other hand, are not allowed to meddle on the game itself. Each team will also be given a single timeout for the game which spans for only ten minutes and is a race for twenty-one points.
Winners of this two-day tournament will take home cash prizes, with the champions bringing half of the total prize of PHP 200 thousand to their school. Second and third-placers will then get PHP 100 thousand and Php 50 thousand, respectively.
And aside from having the distinction as the very first collegiate 3x3 basketball competition to be held in the country, i3i will also introduce another first in Philippine basketball history. The said tourney will use a specialized Wilson-sponsored ball, measuring smaller than the usual ones being used in different league games across the country.
Also confirmed to join the said tourney are teams from UST, San Beda, Ateneo, Arellano, Mapua, NU, UP, San Sebastian, UE and Adamson.
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