MANILA – The Philippines 3×3 basketball team moved closer to its Olympic dream. It has been given a slot in the men’s 3×3 basketball Olympic qualifying tournament set in March 2020 in India.
The Philippines was named by FIBA as one of the 20 countries playing in the qualifier. The national team was bracketed in Pool C with Slovenia, France, the Dominican Republic, and Qatar.
Three Olympic berths are at stake in the qualifier while the final slot will come from the FIBA Universality-driven OQT.
Already given direct spots to the competition were host Japan, China, Russia, and Serbia.
Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) president Al Panlilio said the OQT spot is a welcome development. It is in 3×3 basketball where Filipino basketball players can really excel, he stressed.
“We’re very happy that the Philippines will be competing in the upcoming Olympic qualifying tournament,” Panlilio said. “We’re delighted that a Filipino basketball team will get to test their skills against the world’s best.”
Panlilio also lauded the efforts of Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas 3×3, the league that accumulated most of the points through the staging of four events and the participation of several teams in multiple FIBA 3×3 Challenger and World Tour events.
“The SBP thanks all the private promoters that held 3×3 events especially Chooks-To-Go led by Ronald Mascarinas. We’re proud of the joint effort from the Philippines basketball community that helped us reach this goal,” Panlilio said.
Among those who could play for the Philippines 3×3 team were Alvin Pasaol, Leonard Santillan and Joshua Munzon, who all postpone their participation in this year’s PBA Rookie Draft for a chance to play in the Olympics./PN
