3 on 3 Basketball taking Gisborne and NZ by storm

Media Release

Thursday 23 January 2014

3 on 3 Basketball taking Gisborne and NZ by storm

Gisborne is joining the nationwide craze this summer with a ‘3 on 3’ basketball tournament at the YMCA, Friday 24 January 2014.

The Gisborne competition is aimed at keeping teenagers busy during another hot day of summer. It coincides with Basketball New Zealand’s 3x3 National Tour which tips off the same weekend in Auckland.

Gisborne hasn’t made it on the national tour schedule so Turanga Health has organised a battle of the neighbourhoods for the locals. “Enter for fun with your mates and see who will come out on top. There’s a major prize up for grabs,” says Turanga Health organiser Shane Luke.

3 on 3 basketball is a global phenomenon. “Basketball New Zealand statistics show basketball is the leading participation sport for Kiwi kids aged 5-18, but not all of them play in formal competitions. The national tour and our local competition are taking it to the next level,” says Mr Luke.

3 on 3 is a form of the game where New Zealand has already enjoyed success. Tall Blacks Isaac Fotu, Rueben Te Rangi and Tai Webster combined to help capture the inaugural FIBA Youth 3X3 World Championship in 2011.

“With the international basketball federation pushing to have it included in the 2020 Olympics, it’s a game that’s growing in popularity and we hope Gisborne is included in the national competition next year.” Basketball New Zealand is expanding the competition to 12 centres next year and 14 centres after that.

Mr Luke said the appeal of 3 on 3 is that it is fast, easy to play, and no one is left warming the bench!

Saturday’s tournament follows on from a successful Term 4 basketball programme in some of this region’s intermediate and secondary schools; and last year’s New Zealand Breakers tour of Gisborne - both organised by Turanga Health.

Tournament games will be 10 minutes and played on a half court. It starts at 3pm and will be a round robin, followed by finals. Register your mixed or single sex teams one of four ways: at the YMCA 2.30pm on the day, by ringing Turanga Health on (06) 869 0457, at the Turanga Health Derby St office, or on facebook.com/turangahealth.

Fruit and water will be available on the day and Turanga Health is looking for young volunteers to help with registration, scoring, and other tournament tasks.

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For more information contact Shane Luke (06) 869 0457 or 027 702 6455.