The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Tribune Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

A LOCAL organisation is seeking to develop the game of 3-on-3 basketball in the country and offer a forum for an exciting new brand of the sport.

Battlegrounds Bahamas looks to launch this summer with its premier showcase, the first of many events as they look to garner interest in the game.

Jordan Coakley, a member of the Battlegrounds Bahamas organising team, said 3-on-3 basketball can provide a new slate of opportunities at every level, ranging from the elite to the casual players.

"What we are trying to do is solidify the game of 3 on 3 in the Bahamas, so when we start speaking hoops and we think 5 on 5 we want 3 on 3 to be right there in the conversation," he said.

"The pace of the game is different - it's only 10 minutes, and at no point do you stop unless the ball goes out of bounds or there's a foul. They call it a 10-minute sprint. We're not just looking for the elite ballers to come out, we want to make it a family-filled community event. What makes it appealing is its simplicity, it's not intimidating like a full 5-on-5 event. And it's for everyone, no matter the age. Each team has four players, all it takes is to register and come out to play."

FIBA has undergone a campaign in recent years for more countries under its umbrella to adapt the 3-on-3 version of the game.

Played in a halfcourt setting, each game is 10 minutes or the first team to score 21. The game is played with a smaller, colourful ball, but the weight of a regulation FIBA ball. The pace is quickened with a 12-second shot clock and points are scored by ones and twos (beyond the three-point line).

According to FIBA: 3-on-3 is considered the No.1 urban team sport. From the first official event at the 2010 Youth Olympics Games to the Olympic inclusion starting from the Tokyo 2020 Games, FIBA has had an ambitious vision for the game. The rules are very simple and designed to make it a fast, spectacular and exciting game. The non-stop music brings an authentic urban culture atmosphere, which attracts a new young audience to the games. 3-on-3 is an opportunity for new players, organisers and countries to go from the streets to the world stage. The stars of the gameplay in a professional tour and some of the most prestigious multi-sports events. On June 9, 2017, 3-on-3 was added to the Olympic programme, starting from the Tokyo 2020 Games.

"We need people to play because we need people to build up points for our country. FIBA ranks countries by points accumulated in their region. The Bahamas has zero points so far so we need to have more events and more people come out in the events so our top 100 players can compare to other top countries within the region," Coakley said.

"I have a lot of confidence in the Bahamas because we only need four players, and I firmly believe our four best players can compete with anyone in the world. The game is so versatile you can mix it up. The No.1 team in the world is from Serbia and all of their guys are 6'5 or 6'6" so I'm certain we can compete internationally at some point."

Coakley had experience playing 3-on-3 basketball in Europe and looks to bring the game and its opportunities to the Bahamas.

"I played a year of pro basketball in Romania, got into coaching and training but during the summertime I got invited to play in several tournaments in different countries - Germany, Turkey, Bulgaria, Hungary - and I saw how accessible it was for everybody. We don't need a gym, we can set up and play for any location so I thought it would be a good thing to bring home for the Bahamian people," he said. "There's money in 3-on-3 so we are definitely looking to attract the elite ballers. They have a league in Puerto Rico, one in Romania one in the Netherlands and I think getting paid to play is in the near future for us. The great thing about 3-on-3 is that we can play this all year round. We can set up outside at any point in time and have this entire experience that many other countries can only play at certain points during the year."

Follow the organisation's Facebook page "Battlegrounds Bahamas" for updates on tournaments, registration and information regarding the events in the coming months.