Previous Story
3×3 Season 2, slam dunk exhibition this weekend
|
Posted on Jun 23 2021
Santos
The Mariana Islands Basketball League will be hosting 3×3 Season 2, which includes a slam dunk exhibition, this weekend at the Agape Gymnasium and the Marianas High School Gymnasium.
The two-day tournament already has 33 teams signed up divided into three division—5-16 boys, 5-open women’s, and 23-open men’s, according to coordinator Clint Albert.
“Coach Elias [Rangamar] and I, since the start were really planning to run a 3×3 tournament every year. But due to various reasons out of our control we had to push season 2’s date longer than expected. After the Kings of The Game (1-on-1 tournament) we definitely had to kick this off as somewhat of a preseason tournament for the semi-pro league which we aim to do season 2 on the last quarter of the year,” he said.
Albert said MIBL holding 3×3 Season 2 is also a testament to the growing popularity of 3×3 basketball.
“I would say 3×3’s popularity was really the great work of FIBA and its program. But I also believe due to the pandemic before the world was seeing full court tournaments, people were running 3x3s to have a smaller number of people playing in the same venue and thus being a safer bet in causing spread of the virus. To add to this 3×3 is a fast paced and a very exciting tournament format which a lot of fans also enjoy watching,” he said.
On the slam dunk exhibition, so far high-leapers Coby Santos, Eric Joe, and Mak Mintac have committed to taking part in the sideshow, which will utilize a 9-foot rim instead of the standard 10-foot rim.
“These dunkers will try to wow the crowd and will also be wearing special jerseys that are inspired by Dunk Legends care of The Game Athletics. We wanted to try something different and we hope to excite players and fans in the exhibition and be part of the first ever slam dunk exhibition on island,” said Albert.
