Support to the game of 3×3 basketball at the grassroots level is gaining ground.
Businessman sportsman Ronald Mascariñas agrees with officials of the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas that this is the next best thing for the Philippine basketball.
Marcarinas, who is the president of Bounty Agro Ventures Inc., said that they are supporting efforts from the SBP to develop a pool of players, who can qualify to the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
“There’s is an ongoing 3×3 program. It’s at the grassroots level. We had a chance to talk to SBP president Al Panlilio and FIBA during the 2018 FIBA 3×3 World Cup. And we realize, we must organize a sustainable 3×3 league in the country,” said Macarinas.
Mascarinas talked about his desire to help the SBP effort to organize 3×3 basketball in the Philippines during Thursday’s thanksgiving dinner that was hosted by Chooks to Go at the Holiday Inn Hotel in Ortigas.
The Philippines is currently ranked no. 57 and this can improve if players and tournaments on 3×3 will be registered with FIBA.
Having a 3×3 league, according to Mascarinas, will make the Philippines more competitive and be able to excel in international meets.
During the World Cup, Team Pilipinas was made up of players who regularly see action in the 5×5 meets.
When the FIBA 3×3 World Cup ended, Serbia successfully defended the men’s title, while Italy claimed the women’s crown at the Philippine Arena in Bocaue, Bulacan.