The Tribune

By JONATHAN BURROWS

Tribune Sports Reporter

jburrows@tribunemedia.net

THE Bahamas Basketball Federation honoured both of The Bahamas’ FIBA 3x3 teams at a press conference following their performances at the 2026 3x3 Caribbean Cup, where both the men’s and women’s team captured gold.

Michael Munnings emerged as the tournament’s leading scorer, finishing the two stops of the Caribbean Cup with 63 total points, including 39 points during championship day, to lead the entire field in scoring and help Team Bahamas secure the men’s title.

Stevacko Jacques added 26 points for the men, while Qui’Andre Robinson scored 11 and Whitfield “Woody” Ching finished with six.

On the women’s side, Michelle Butler and Jada Francis led the way with 18 points each, followed by Shenell Stewart with 15 and Tania Kerr with three.

The performances have also renewed discussion about the potential of 3x3 basketball in The Bahamas, particularly as the discipline continues to develop internationally and remains part of the Olympic programme.

Men’s head coach Marvin Henfield believes the country has significant potential in the format and said 3x3 could provide another pathway for Bahamian basketball to reach the international stage. “I think the sky is the limit for us,” Henfield said.

While much of the attention surrounding Bahamian basketball remains focused on traditional five-on-five competition, Henfield believes 3x3 deserves greater investment, particularly on the women’s side.

“I know a lot of emphasis is placed on 5v5 basketball, but I think as it relates to the female side of the game, I think it’s our quickest path to qualifying,” he said.

“I think I can go on the record saying I feel similarly about the men’s because it’s a wide open ball game.”

Henfield said the recent Caribbean Cup performances demonstrated that Bahamian players can quickly adapt to the format despite having limited experience playing it. “The game is built for the Bahamians,” he said.

“And I think it just shows with their lack of experience, but with the talent that we have in this country, that was very much on display.”

The coach pointed to the reduced number of players on the court as one of the reasons the Bahamian players were able to make an immediate impact.

“Even though they were new to the game, their individual talent, their individual skills put together in the half court with 40 per cent less players, it just changed and made it so much easier for them,” Henfield said.

He challenged the federation to increase its investment in the discipline.

“I would challenge them to really look into spending and investing more in the game of 3x3 on the men’s side, but primarily on the female side,” Henfield stated.

Henfield explained that 3x3 is played continuously on a half court, with games using one and two-point scoring rather than the traditional two and three-point system. “There are no stops except on dead balls,” he said.

“Substitutions are done strategically by the individuals. There’s no coaching involved on the sideline.”

That also creates a different role for coaches during competition. “As coaches, we have to sit in the stands,” Henfield said. “So all the strategies are put in before the game.”

Henfield said The Bahamas must continue to compete in international events if it wants to improve its standing and move closer to Olympic qualification.

He said the country needs to play three events between now and October 1 to begin accumulating the necessary points and experience, while also developing local leagues and qualifying tournaments.

Henfield also believes 3x3 can play a major role in the development of young basketball players and should be introduced more extensively in Bahamian schools.

“If I could speak honestly, me, as a coach and someone that’s heavily involved in development of basketball, 3x3 is the ideal game that should be used for teaching,” he said.

With only six players on the court compared to 10 in five-on-five, Henfield said young players receive more opportunities to handle the ball, defend and make decisions.

“You’ve got 40 per cent less players on the court, there’s only six players compared to 10, it’s easier to teach, there’s more spacing, there’s more abilities for the individuals or for the athletes to get more touches,” he said.

Henfield also pointed to the defensive demands of the format.

“You can’t hide in 3x3, so you have to learn to play individual defence,” he said. “And then also the team concept or the team help side of the defence is elevated because you have to play defence, and if there’s a position or an opportunity to help, you’ve got to help.”

He believes that combination makes 3x3 valuable not only as a competitive discipline, but also as a foundation for developing players who can eventually transition into five-on-five basketball.

“I would love for The Bahamas to really ride this wave and make an investment in 3x3,” Henfield said. “Basketball as a whole, but 3x3, because I think this is where the foundation of the game can be built.”

The growth of 3x3 could also create opportunities for Bahamian officials.

Therese, a Bahamian official who has transitioned from five on five to 3x3 officiating, said the format has provided her with another avenue to develop her officiating skills.

She previously served as a FIBA certified five-on-five official before being asked to officiate a 3x3 tournament in The Bahamas in December.

“I fell in love with it,” she said.

Her experience at the Caribbean Cup in Cayman allowed her to build on what she learned during the December tournament.

“For me, it’s more experience,” she said. “If we can get it established locally, then we can get more experience, get more referees involved.”

She also believes 3x3 can serve as a development platform for officials who want to advance to the five on five level.

“It can also be a training ground for our officials to move to the 5-on-5 level,” she said. “So we can partner with it in that way where it’s not only a training ground for the players, but it’s also a training ground for the referees.”

The success of The Bahamas’ teams at the Caribbean Cup has given the federation another opportunity to build interest in a discipline that remains relatively new to many Bahamian basketball fans.

Henfield says the next step is turning the recent success into a sustained programme through more international competition, local development and greater investment.

“I think ultimately, the sky’s the limit for us,” he said. “And I hope that everyone that’s watching and seeing this, that’s never played the game, would at least give it a try. And I think it’s built primarily for us.”