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| Home Court Group, Okada Manila, and other sponsors sealed the deal for holding a 3x3 event that serves as a qualifier for the FIBA 3x3 Focheon Challenger. Ivan Saldajeno |
PARANAQUE—3x3 basketball makes its way back into the mainstream next month as Half Court Group presents the Half Court 3x3 Basketball Tournament at the Okada Manila Crystal Pavilion here.
Thirty-two teams, 16 per gender, will compete in the three-leg tournament with the men's division having a bigger bearing as a FIBA 3x3 event awaits the men's champion.
Classified as a FIBA 3x3 lite quest, the winner of the men's division earns a spot in the FIBA 3x3 Pocheon Challenger in South Korea, a qualifying tournament for the FIBA 3x3 World Tour Shenzhen Masters.
Among the players to watch out for on the men's side are Louie Vigil and TH Tumalip.
On the other hand, Gilas Pilipinas headlines the teams that will play in the women's division.
Also confirmed to be playing are the two teams backed by Uratex, Dream and Tibay, and two groups of former La Salle and Ateneo players.
Another highlight of the 3x3 event is a training camp open to young basketball players where no less than the founders of the Home Court Group led by Mau Belen, Chester Saldua, Matt Salem, and Samboy De Leon will serve as coaches.
Belen coached Saldua, Salem, and De Leon with Pasig-TNT, which has made waves in various 3x3 events locally and internationally.
This time, though, the four personalities will just be in the Half Court event as organizers and training camp coaches as Pasig-TNT is begging off from joining the lite quest.
Follow him on X: @IvanSaldajeno
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