For all street basketball enthusiast, 3x3 basketball on the FIBA Schedule is categorized into Pro Circuit (Clubs) and Championships (National Teams). The highest tournament for these categories are the 3x3 World Tour and the 3x3 World Championship respectively.
The 2016 FIBA 3x3 World Championship which is the 3rd edition of the tournament is scheduled to hold in Guangzhou, China, just outside the Tianhe Sport Complex with a view on the iconic 600-metre tall Canton Tower next week from Tuesday 11 to Saturday 15 October. This is the first time the competition travels to Asia after being staged in Athens, Greece in 2012 and Moscow, Russia in 2014.
The World Championship - a combination of both male and female - will feature 40 teams (20 men`s and 20 women`s) from 28 different countries and every continent. Asides the defending champions - USA (women) and Qatar (men) - and the host nation China who all qualify automatically, the other participating teams qualify based on the FIBA 3x3 Federation Ranking of each National Federation. Egypt is the only participating team from Africa and they will feature in the men's event. Africa will not be represented in the women's event.
Egypt will play alongside Indonesia, Andorra, Slovenia and Uruguay in Pool B. Egypt feature in the maiden edition of the World Championship in 2012 in Athens, Greece. Their journey ended in the Round of 16 as they were defeated by host Greece (15-12). They were not seeded for Russia 2014. Tunisia represented Africa at the 2014 event and also ended their campaign and the round of 16.
Unites States' women won both in Greece and Russia. Image - FIBA
In the men`s ranking, Nigeria is ranked 80th below Egypt, Tunisia, Mali, Angola and Ghana while we are not on the women's ranking. According to the FIBA 3x3 Ranking System, a nation's ranking is dependent on the number of registered 3x3 players and their accumulated points among other things. For Nigeria to participate in 3x3 Global Tournament, we need more 3x3 players, more 3x3 tournaments.
The Lagos 3x3 Tour tips off in 30 days and registration closes in 10 days. You have the opportunity to put your name on the world 3x3 ranking. Go register now.
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