HAS the PBA seen the last of its 3x3 program?
The league decided to suspend indefinitely the operation of the half-court game that revived the PBA careers of journeyman players and opened doors for underrated prospects in Asia’s pioneering pro league.
All 13 teams which played during the meet’s third season received a memo on the decision which was contained in the directive from the PBA Board of Governors, sources contacted by SPIN.ph from around the league confirmed on Friday.
No reason was given for the shock move.
The 2023-24 season of the 3x3 concluded last February with the Meralco Bolts denying TNT Triple Giga a second straight grand slam by ruling the Third Conference grand finals.
If the league, indeed, decides to shelve its 3-a-side program, it would be a sad end to short-lived league that gave the likes of Almond Vosotros, Jorey Napoles, Joseph Eriobu, Ping Exciminiano, Lervin Flores, Joseph Sedurifa, Samboy De Leon, Louie Vigil, Ken Bono, Wendell Comboy, and Jed Mendoza, among others, a new lease of life in their playing careers.
It likewise became the launching pad for current PBA players such as Ralph Cu, Kim Aurin, Keith Datu, Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser, Brandon Bates, Jeremiah Gray, Encho Serrano, Jayson David, Dominic Fajardo, Bryan Santos, and Ricci Rivero to name a few.
New breed of coaches were also given the spotlight such as Mau Belen, Willie Wilson, Kyles Lao, Lester Del Rosario, Raymond Tiongco, Alfredo Jarencio II, Tony Boy Espinosa, and Anton Altamirano as well as the veterans like Boycie Zamar, Patrick Fran, Junjie Ablan, Kirk Collier.
TNT is most dominant 3x3 team
The TNT Triple Giga, handled by Belen, emerged as the most dominant franchise in its three-year run, winning six of the nine conferences at stake, including the first and only grand slam in 3x3 history during the 2022-2023 season.
They actually won five straight conferences and were poised for another ‘slam’ before the Bolts of coach Fran denied them of the achievement during the tournament’s final conference.
Limitless App and Pioneer Pro Tibay were the only teams to win a grand finals.
Likewise, the program was a source of talent for the 3x3 program of the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) as its fed players to teams sent to the Southeast Asian Games, Asian Games, and the FIBA Asia Cup,
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