Basketball in New Zealand is flying. Literally.
It's now the second most played sport in secondary schools around the country and the Kiwis continue to punch above their weight on the international stage. Nationally, the sport has been growing on a competitive level, with increasing number of Men's and Women's teams in both Sal's NBL and Tauihi Basketball Aotearoa.
The popularity of 3x3 basketball has exploded worldwide, and is now played in the Olympics and Commonwealth Games. To help promote 3x3 in New Zealand, Basketball NZ developed the 3x3 Cup, which will again be hosted at ILT Stadium Southland.
What is 3x3 basketball?
3x3 is to basketball what T20 is to cricket, a fast-action short format game that is generally more exciting. It is played by teams of 3, requires only a half court and most of the time is played outdoors, allowing for some insane backdrops. The game ends when a team scores 21 points, or whoever has the most points after 10 minutes.
Due to its fast-paced nature, it allows for multiple teams to play during a day, facilitating fans to view different teams in a single day.
3x3 Cup NZ
The 3x3 Cup is relatively new, it was introduced in 2019, and despite covid forcing cancellations it has become prominent competition in the calendar. Held at ILT Stadium Southland in Invercargill, the 2023 edition will bring together 24 of the top men’s and women’s teams competing for glory, with every single game broadcast live on Sky Sport.
There is a great mix of teams participating this year, with professional teams from Sal's NBL, Tauihi Basketball Aotearoa as well as Tavake Pasifika and The University of Waikato.
The tournament starts next week and runs from October 25th - 28th. We'll be there to check out the action courtside. Catch ALL games live on Sky Sport.
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