Sina 3x3 cagefest set Sept. 12 in Manila

MANILA, Philippines – A chance to compete with the world’s best 3x3 basketball players in Beijing, China is at stake when the Sina 3x3 Golden League Manila fires off on September 12 at the Taft Food by the Park.

The tournament features a three-day elimination format, with the playoffs and the national finals set on September 15 at the Vista Mall in Taguig City.

A total of 128 teams will vie for the crown in the Manila tournament with the champion team being invited to Beijing for the inaugural Sina 3x3 International Elite League slated from November 13 to 17. The champion of the Manila leg will join 11 other squads from around the world for the right to be named the first-ever Elite League champion.

Aside from a chance to represent the Philippines, winners stand to receive cash prizes with the champion team taking home $3,000. The first runner-up will get $2,000, while the second runner-up will receive $1,000 in the tournament that will be beamed throughout the Philippines through all-basketball cable channel, BTV.

The cagefest’s objective is to bring together top-quality 3x3 teams from Philippines and select the best one to represent the country at the culminating Beijing tiff. This is where top 3x3 teams will vie for the title and the $50,000 cash prize that goes with it.

Filipino cagers can expect to face high-quality opposition from the US, the UK, Australia, Taiwan, Japan and Serbia.

Lars Heidenreich, managing director of the event’s Manila organizer Mediapro Asia, said: “With the introduction of 3x3 Basketball as a medal sport in Tokyo 2020, we know this sport is set to grow in popularity over the years. We, at Mediapro Asia present this Manila leg of the very successful Sina 3x3 Golden League to enable more people to showcase their talent present them with a global platform in Beijing.”

Arthur Wei, Sina senior vice President and general manager, said:  “The government is supportive of private sporting events and encourages us to internationalize these events. It’s important that we not only bring international talent to events in China but to globalize China-based events and this cooperation is a historical first step by any Chinese company in doing so.”