Determined to launch a stand-alone 3×3 tourney notwithstanding the pandemic, the Philippine Basketball Association has formed a body tasked specifically to oversee this project envisioned to help the country crack the 3×3 event in the Olympics.
The PBA board of governors, in a recent meeting, named Alaska Milk’s Dickie Bachmann as chairman of the committee also made up of NorthPort’s Erick Arejola, Phoenix’s Atty. Raymond Zorrilla, PBA technical official Joey Guanio and PBA great Ronnie Magsanoc, representing the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas.
“They will form the system, policy, guidelines, format and everything about the tourney. They will make the finer details and complete the action plan,” said PBA commissioner Willie Marcial.
Bachmann convenes the group in a meeting this week.
The PBA 3×3 idea came up in the last PBA annual planning session as recommended by PBA vice chair Bobby Rosales.
It failed to take off as planned this year, stalled by the COVID-19 pandemic.
But the PBA isn’t giving up on it, remaining committed to help the national cage federation boost this hoop discipline which is to make its debut in the Tokyo Olympics as a regular sports event.
The PBA has had its earlier contribution in putting up the quartet of MoalaTautua, CJ Perez, Jason Perkins and Chris Newsome who ruled the inaugural 3×3 event in the SEA Games in Manila last year.
Tautuaa and Perez were later named to the Gilas 3×3 team that will vie in the Olympic Qualifying Tourney.*pba.ph