Pinaghalong karanasan at kabataan ang katauhan ng Team Philippine Gilas na isasabak sa FIBA 3x3 World Championship sa Oktubre 11-15 sa Guangzhou, China.
Binubuo ang koponan nina Rey Guevarra ng Meralco, Karl Dehesa ng Globalport, at Gilas 5.0 stalwarts Mark Belo at Russel Escoto, kapwa bahagi ng matagumpay na kampanya ng Far Eastern University sa UAAP.
Makakalaban ng Philippines sa Men’s Pool C ang Poland, Romania, Spain at Hungary.
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“We are upbeat with the opportunity to play in the 2016 FIBA 3x3 World Championship, the equivalent of 5x5’s FIBA World Cup,” pahayag ni SBP executive director Sonny Barrios.
“We have made great strides at the 3x3 game since we started playing at the FIBA International level in 2013, when Kobe Paras even won the slam dunk contest in Singapore,” aniya.
Ayon kay Barrios, ang ginagamit na format ng 3x3 ay makatutulong sa Pinoy para mas mapataas ang competitive level at skills.
“This is clearly evident even with the PBA players who got exposed to 3x3 at the global level, from Terrence Romeo and Calvin Abueva to Vic Manuel, Troy Rosario and Karl Dehesa, etc.,” sambit ni Barrios.
“Their 5x5 game in the pro league obviously benefited from such 3x3 international exposure.”
Sa Pool A, magkakasama ang silver medalist Serbia, No. 3 Russia, Italy, defending champion Qatar at New Zealand, habang nasa Pool B ang Slovenia, Uruguay, Andorra, Indonesia at Egypt. Magkakasubukan sa Pool D ang United States, the Netherlands, Japan, Turkey at host China.
Batay sa format, maglalaro sa one round robin at ang mangungunang dalawang koponan sa bawat grupo ay uusad sa knockout quarterfinal stage. Ang mangungunang apat na koponan ang sasabak sa crossover semifinal at ang magwawagi ang maghaharap sa championship round.
