ONLY over the last couple of years has three-on-three basketball become a more formalised version of the sport.
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Before that, everyone was playing it socially down at their local court.
Port Macquarie basketballers had their first taste of Champions League Basketball on Sunday – and they loved it.
Mid North Coast rivals Coffs Harbour surprised everyone when they took out the elite division, knocking off the more fancied Sydney and Melbourne opponents along the way.
But it was Jake Wallis who delivered the best assessment of the new format that allows more physicality than playing five-on-five.
Wallis has played for the Port Macquarie Dolphins in the men’s state league competition in previous seasons.
There is no doubt he’ll bring what he learned on a three-on-three court with him back to the state league next season.
“It was a bit rougher than what I expected, but it toughens you up,” Wallis said.
“Come state league season or another local competition you’re going to be more prepared and a lot more physical when you come up against other opponents.
“(In three-on-three) you learn to keep your focus and your balance after you get hit and make a basket.”
CLB general manager Matt Hollard was impressed with the response from the Port Macquarie community.
“The whole community, even general business people loved it,” he said.
“It’s fast, short, sharp and really exciting.
“The older crew – those in their 20s – loved it as well because it was something different and the engagement from the community was great.”
While three-on-three is one of the oldest forms of the sport, Hollard admitted Australia had been “slow on the uptake”.
“Everyone’s been playing three on three for hundreds of years, but it’s really starting to gather momentum now with the link to the Olympics and Comm Games as well.”
The Champions League format is fully endorsed by FIBA with up to 30 events set to take place throughout Australia between October and March.
“It’s a FIBA product and FIBA endorsed so whatever we’re doing here on local courts is the same as what they’re doing on the world tour in Serbia or the US,” Hollard said.
“It’s really starting to gather momentum; for Port it’s brand new – we did an event here last year at a local stadium – but this was the first time it’s been played outdoors in this sort of format.”
In coming years, Hollard said the Hastings could produce an Australian three-on-three player.
“It’s all about ranking points,” he said.
“The more you play this game, the more ranking points you get.
“We encourage everybody to get out there and play in as many events as possible to earn the ranking points for not only themselves but their country and get Australia’s ranking up as high as we can.”
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