SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) – The city of Springfield was filled with excitement as 3 x 3 teams at the highest level of international basketball began competition Monday night.
The Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame kicked off the FIBA 3×3 Women’s and Men’s Series this week, bringing together some of the best players from around the world. On Monday evening, 12 men’s teams competed for a chance to win the tournament and advance to the top level of the International Basketball Federation.
It starts with a quest, the Men’s 3 x 3 Qualifier, and a bid for at least one team to the FIBA 3 x 3 World Tour Edmonton Masters on July 6-7. On April 23-24, women’s teams will compete at the Springfield Women’s Series, the first stop of the 2024 FIBA 3×3 Women’s Series.
Each team consisted of three players and a sub and the game lasted only ten minutes or until the team reached 21 points. “It’s amazing how whenever you wear the USA on the chest, you always feel proud and excited and obviously want to represent your country well, so we’re fortunate to be able to do that And we hope that he will be able to represent us in this tournament and beyond.” Team USA 3 x 3 Olympic basketball team member Jimmer Fredette expressed.
The top two teams from each pool will advance to another set of games on Tuesday. Fredette said that after this tournament he can’t wait to represent the USA at the Olympics.
“When you think of the Olympics it’s the epitome of athletics, right? This is what you think and dream about in childhood. “Seeing people wear their gold medals, standing on that stand and hearing the national anthem,” Fredette said. “It doesn’t matter what sport it is, it’s fun to see people do their best. So, being a part of it is going to be something special.
Kayleigh Thomas is a digital reporter who has been part of the 22News team since 2022. Follow Kayleigh on X @kayleighcthomas and look at him Bio To see more of his work.
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