PBA 3x3 was the men's 3x3 basketball league of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA).
 | |
| First season | 2021 |
|---|---|
| Folded | 2024 |
| Country | Philippines |
| Confederation | FIBA Asia |
| Number of teams | 11–14 |
| Last champion(s) | Meralco Bolts 3x3 |
| Most championships | TNT Triple Giga (6 titles) |
| Website | 3x3 |
History
editThe proposal to form PBA 3x3, a men's 3x3 basketball league, was a result of a joint partnership between the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) and the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP), the national sports association for basketball in the Philippines, as a means to help the Philippine national 3x3 team qualify for the 2024 Summer Olympics and subsequent editions after 3x3 became a regular discipline in the 2020 Summer Olympics.[1] The concept for a PBA 3x3 league was proposed by Terrafirma governor Bobby Rosales in an annual board meeting.[2] PBA 3x3 is proposed as a stand-alone program, similar to the PBA D-League which means that the 3x3 league is distinct from the main 5-a-side men's professional league of the PBA.[1]
The PBA had prior involvement in 3x3. In 2014 and 2015, it has allowed some of its players to join Philippine-based teams to participate in masters tournaments of the FIBA 3x3 World Tour and organized the short-lived PBA Women's 3x3 which had one season in 2015, following the Philippines women's national team's promotion to Division I of the FIBA Asia Women's Championship.[2]
The SBP also had partnered with Bounty Agro Ventures to organize the Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas 3x3, a men's 3x3 league, which helped garner enough FIBA 3x3 ranking points for the Philippine men's national team to earn a berth in the Olympic Qualifying Tournament for the 2020 Summer Olympics. Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas 3x3 has publicly welcomed the possible formation of a 3x3 league by the PBA[2] and the SBP said that the existence of more competitive 3x3 tournaments is within its interest.[3] There are plans to revive the women's 3x3 league as of February 2020.[4]
The inaugural season was supposed to be held in 2020 but was postponed to 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic with the PBA preoccupied with plans to resume the season of its main league during that time.[5]
The PBA 3x3 committee was formed in August 2020, with Alaska Aces governor, Richard Bachmann as its chairman.[6] The committee held its first meeting on August 13, 2020.[7] Eric Altamirano was also named as the league's first commissioner.[8]
The PBA 3x3 inaugural season was initially scheduled to be held in parallel with the 2021 PBA season, which opened on April 11, 2021,[9] but was further postponed. The inaugural PBA 3x3 season commenced on November 20, 2021.[10]
Following the exodus of almost a third of players to the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League at the conclusion of the 2023–24 Third Conference, the PBA in May 2024 decided to shelf it's 3x3 league. With the disbandment of the Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas 3x3 in November 2023, the Philippines is left without a FIBA sanctioned men's 3x3 league.[11]
Format
editThe PBA 3x3 committee is leaning on scheduling games of the PBA 3x3 in between conferences of the main PBA league, to allow the franchise teams to field their top players in 3x3 matches.[12]
Under FIBA 3x3 classification the league is a Level 4 tournament.[13]
Teams
editFranchise teams
editAmong the franchise teams of the PBA since the 3x3 league's inception, only the Converge FiberXers (Alaska Aces in 2021 season) has not fielded a team. Phoenix Super LPG Fuel Masters and Rain or Shine Elasto Painters have fielded teams in the past but their respective teams would went on leave.
| Team | Company | PBA affiliate | Joined |
|---|---|---|---|
| Barangay Ginebra San Miguel | Ginebra San Miguel, Inc. | Barangay Ginebra San Miguel | 2021 |
| Blackwater Smooth Razor | Ever Bilena | Blackwater Bossing | 2022 |
| Cavitex Braves | Metro Pacific Investments Corporation | NLEX Road Warriors | 2021 |
| Limitless Appmasters | Phoenix Petroleum Philippines, Inc. | Phoenix Super LPG Fuel Masters | 2021 |
| Meralco Bolts 3x3 | Manila Electric Company | Meralco Bolts | 2021 |
| NorthPort Batang Pier | Sultan 900 Capital, Inc. | NorthPort Batang Pier | 2021 |
| Purefoods TJ Titans | San Miguel Food and Beverage, Inc. | Magnolia Hotshots | 2021 |
| San Miguel Beermen | San Miguel Brewery, Inc. | San Miguel Beermen | 2021 |
| Sista Super Sealers | Asian Coatings Philippines, Inc. | Rain or Shine Elasto Painters | 2021 |
| Terrafirma 3x3 | Terrafirma Realty Development Corporation | Terrafirma Dyip | 2021 |
| TNT Triple Giga | Smart Communications | TNT Tropang Giga | 2021 |
Guest teams
edit| Team | Company | Joined |
|---|---|---|
| J&T Express | Jet Express Co., Ltd. | 2022 |
| Master Sardines Fishing Champs | Universal Canning Inc. | 2021 |
| MCFASolver Tech Centrale | MCFASolver Tech Centrale | 2023 |
| Pioneer ElastoSeal Katibays | Pioneer Epoxy Adhesives Inc. | 2021 |
| Platinum Karaoke | Vismay International Corporation | 2021 |
| Wilcon Depot 3x3 | Wilcon Depot Inc. | 2023 |
| Zamboanga Valientes | MLV Group | 2021 |
Summary
edit| Season | Conference | Final | Third place game | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grand Champion | Score | Runner-up | Third place | Score | Fourth place | |||
| 2021 | First | Limitless Appmasters | 18–16 | Platinum Karaoke | TNT Tropang Giga | 22–14 | Terrafirma 3x3 | |
| Second | Pioneer Pro Tibay | 12–10 | Sista Super Sealers | Barangay Ginebra San Miguel | 21–16 | TNT Tropang Giga | ||
| Third | TNT Tropang Giga | 21–19 | Purefoods TJ Titans | Sista Super Sealers | 21–20 | San Miguel Beermen | ||
| 2022–23 | First | TNT Tropang Giga | 20–17 | Platinum Karaoke | Cavitex Braves | 16–11 | Meralco Bolts 3x3 | |
| Second | TNT Tropang Giga | 19–17 | Cavitex Braves | J&T Express | 20–14 | Platinum Karaoke | ||
| Third | TNT Tropang Giga | 21–18 | San Miguel Beermen | Barangay Ginebra San Miguel | 21–18 | J&T Express | ||
| 2023–24 | First | TNT Triple Giga | 21–18 | Cavitex Braves | Meralco Bolts 3x3 | 18–14 | Barangay Ginebra San Miguel | |
| Second | TNT Triple Giga | 21–20 | Meralco Bolts 3x3 | Pioneer ElastoSeal Katibays | 16–15 | Cavitex Braves | ||
| Third | Meralco Bolts 3x3 | 21–17 | TNT Triple Giga | Cavitex Braves | 22–19 | Blackwater Smooth Razor | ||
Championships by franchise
edit| Franchise | Championships | Runners-up | Third places | Total trophies | Last championship |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TNT Triple Giga | 6 | 1 | 1 | 8 | 2023–24 Second |
| Meralco Bolts 3x3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 2023–24 Third |
| Pioneer ElastoSeal Katibays | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2021 Second |
| Limitless Appmasters | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2021 First |
| Cavitex Braves | 0 | 2 | 2 | 4 | |
| Platinum Karaoke | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | |
| Sista Super Sealers | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| Purefoods TJ Titans | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | |
| San Miguel Beermen | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | |
| Barangay Ginebra San Miguel | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | |
| J&T Express | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
Bold denotes active franchise
References
edit- ^ a b Giongco, Mark (February 1, 2020). "PBA, SBP set to launch 3×3 tournament in March". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved December 4, 2020.
- ^ a b c Bacnis, Justine (August 11, 2020). "Chooks 3x3 does not see PBA 3x3 as competition, says Eric Altamirano". Tiebreaker Times. Retrieved December 4, 2020.
- ^ Ramos, Gerry (February 1, 2020). "SBP says the more tournaments the better as PBA set to launch 3x3 series". Sports Interactive Network Philippines. Retrieved December 4, 2020.
- ^ Naredo, Camille (February 25, 2020). "PBA to unveil 14-team 3x3 tourney". ABS-CBN News. Retrieved December 4, 2020.
- ^ Lozada, Bong (June 12, 2020). "Inaugural PBA 3x3 tournament postponed to next year". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved December 4, 2020.
- ^ Bacnis, Justine (December 3, 2020). "PBA 3x3 to have earlier start date than 5-on-5". Tiebreaker Times. Retrieved December 4, 2020.
- ^ Bacnis, Justine (August 14, 2020). "Bachmann says PBA targeting 2021 start date for 3x3". Tiebreaker Times. Retrieved December 4, 2020.
- ^ Li, Matthew (January 28, 2021). "Eric Altamirano named PBA 3x3 tournament director". Tiebreaker Times. Retrieved January 29, 2021.
- ^ Leongson, Randolph (March 10, 2021). "PBA set for 16-team three-conference maiden 3x3 season". Sports Interactive Network Philippines. Retrieved March 10, 2021.
- ^ "SMB, Meralco go unbeaten on Day 1 to book PBA 3x3 knockout stage spots". Sports Interactive Network Philippines. November 20, 2021. Retrieved November 20, 2021.
- ^ Bacnis, Justine (May 31, 2024). "PH men's 3x3 in limbo as PBA, Chooks pull plug on programs". Tiebreaker Times.
- ^ Ramos, Gerry (December 4, 2020). "PBA looking to hold maiden 3x3 tournament in between conferences". Sports Interactive Network Philippines. Retrieved December 4, 2020.
- ^ Bacnis, Justine (November 13, 2021). "Magsanoc explains why PBA 3x3 is only a level 4 tournament". Tiebreaker Times. Retrieved November 14, 2021.