There’s just over a month to go before the Schick 3x3 Cup gets underway and teams are finalising their rosters for what they hope will be the nation’s best.
The three-day long event (12 -14 November) will feature 20 teams from across the country going head-to-head at ILT Stadium Invercargill in what shapes to be the country’s biggest 3x3 assemblance to date.
Two of those 20 sides taking to the court next month are New Zealand Select teams, which will be made up of some the most promising shortened-formats players. Justine Reed has taken the reigns as coach of the women and Piet Van Hasselt the men.
Van Hasselt said the tournament gives both he and Reed the chance to get a look at the talent they see has the chance to represent New Zealand in the future.
“I'm really looking forward to seeing some of our best players representing their provinces in the 3X3 NBL Schick Cup.
“We have never had this level of talent assembled for a 3x3 tournament in this country and I'm sure the franchises will be preparing and competing hard to win the inaugural competition.
“The Schick Cup provides an important opportunity to evaluate our talented players with pinnacle international events coming up. This includes the 2021 Olympic Qualification Tournament in Graz, Austria in May and the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Edinburgh in July.”
These teams will be the first of their kind in the 3x3 space and has arisen off the back of the basketball community’s intrigue with the quicker and more condensed game.
New Zealand tasted success on the international stage almost immediately with a gold medal at the 2011 FIBA Under 18 3x3 World Championships in Rimini, Italy. The tournament was the first official 3X3 tournament sanctioned by FIBA.
From there, national teams such as the 3x3 Tall Ferns and Under 18 Women have advanced to and celebrated the finales at competitions such as the Asia Cup and World Championships, propping the country into the top 40 federations from across the globe.
Van Hasselt said he can’t wait to see how attendees use their skill set to give themselves a chance at adding a winner’s medal to both their own and their team’s trophy cabinet.
“What we have seen from past NZ teams is that once players get a chance to play 3x3, they instantly love it.
“We are eagerly anticipating seeing who adapts to the speed and intensity of 3x3 immediately in Invercargill. The event will be fantastic to see in-person, as well as watching on TV.”
“3X3 has shown rapid growth in this country with over 170+ entries in the 3x3 Secondary School Championships and the always popular Quest Tour and 3x3.EXE events.
“We look forward to seeing more events held at association-level and clubs around the country and growing the playing and coaching knowledge about 3x3.”
The New Zealand Select Teams are set to be named early next week alongside the remaining entrant’s announcements. Tickets are on sale now for the Schick 3X3 Cup – click here.
All five sessions of the 2020 Schick 3X3 Cup will be broadcast live on Sky Sport 3.
