THE NCAA is gearing towards the inclusion of 3×3 basketball as part of its regular calendar in the near future.
League president Anthony Tamayo of 94th NCAA host Perpetual Help said the movement to make the event, which is currently one of the fastest-rising sports in the country today, is gaining ground within the Policy Board and Management Committee.
“For Season 94, 3×3 basketball will be played as a special event,” said Tamayo. “We will tackle it in the next meeting and hopefully it will be included as regular event in the future because we feel 3×3 basketball is one sport Filipinos are good at.”
It will mark the second year the event will be held in the NCAA after debuting last year using two divisions—under-14 and under-16.
Next to regular basketball, 3×3 is now gaining popularity after past feats in international events as well as the country’s hosting of such events including this June’s FIBA 3×3 World Cup at the Phl Arena in Bulacan.
The Palarong Pambansa, a multi-sports event for elementary and high school student-athletes, has also embraced the sport after it included 3×3 as a regular discipline in last month’s edition in Vigan, Ilocos Sur.
It also helps that 3×3 has also become an Olympic sport, which should serve as a motivation to Filipinos dreaming of playing in the Olympics.
And the NCAA wants to help in 3×3’s development in the country.
“The NCAA has always supported the country’s national sports programs by lending our athletes to represent the country in the past and we will continue to do that for flag and country,” said Tamayo.
The NCAA unfolds on July 7 at the MOA Arena in Pasay City with defending champion San Beda battling host Perpetual Help in the main game at 2 p.m.