PBA 3×3 hopes to elevate itself to a higher level in terms of world standards as it aims to become the country’s primera clase league moving forward.
According to FIBA 3×3 criteria, the upstart league that raises its curtains on November 20 at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig is a Level 4 event.
“Classified tayo sa Olive,” said Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) 3×3 program director Ronnie Magsanoc in the league’s Media Day, Saturday.
FIBA 3×3 categorizes event levels with colors. Levels 0 and 1, which are U13 and U15 events, are white and yellow, respectively. Level 2 is orange, followed by green (Level 3), and then olive (Level 4) which is the classification for all other open tournaments.
Level 5, which are Lite Quest stops, is blue. Purple, meanwhile, is for Level 6, where Lite Quest finals and Quest stops fall under.
Quest finals are Level 7 events (brown). Pink is for Level 8, which are Super Quest tilts, the Women’s Series, the FIBA U23 Nations League. Challengers and FIBA Cups, on the other hand, are Level 9 (red).
The highest in the hierarchy, ultimately, is Level 10 (black). The popularly known World Tours fall under that category.
PBA 3×3 aims to improve step by step. And so Magsanoc and Co. are keen on proving to the governing body that Asia’s pioneering professional league is more than capable of accomplishing such a daunting task.
“Sa aming pakikipag-usap sa team FIBA 3×3, ‘pag nakita nila na maayos ang execution natin, kasama ang prize money, tayo ay mabibigyan ng isang grado pataas,” said the cage legend also known as the ‘Point Laureate.’
“And we’re hopeful na tayo’y aakyat sa blue, dahil bawat color category ay mas mataas ang puntos na naibibigay sa individual players, sa team ranking points, at sa federation points,” continued the 55-year-old.
The league doesn’t need to look far for inspiration. The country had actually hosted top-level FIBA 3×3 events in the past.
Tournaments such as the World Tour Manila Masters in 2014 and 2015; the 2019 Chooks-to-Go Manila Challenger; and the Chooks-to-Go Asia Pacific Super Quest, to name a few, successfully took place here.
PBA 3×3 also aims for greater things with it set to roll next week. Among the plans, according to Magsanoc, is for the league’s member teams to be able to compete in FIBA 3×3-hosted events in the pro circuit.
And, of course, there are also plans to co-host FIBA 3×3 events some time in the future, added the former player turned executive.
“Hopefully, as we build itong programa na ito moving forward, mas maitataas pa natin dahil part ng mission ni Chairman Dickie [Bachmann] at ng PBA Board, ay makapaglaro ang magka-kampeon sa ating PBA 3×3 sa kompetisyon ng FIBA,” he said.
“At magiging plano rin ng PBA 3×3 na dalhin din ang kompetisyon ng FIBA abroad dito sa Pilipinas. So itataas natin ang ating antas.”
