A new era for Philippine 3×3 basketball has begun as key stakeholders came together for a friendly tournament last Monday at Gameville Ballpark in Mandaluyong, marking the soft launch of Pilipinas 3×3.

A collaborative effort for 3×3 growth

The event was spearheaded by officials from the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP), Smart Sports, Strong Group Athletics (SGA), and MelMac Sports, all working toward reigniting the country’s pioneering 3×3 basketball league, which had been dormant for the past year.

This initiative aligns with SBP’s broader vision of reviving the Philippines’ presence in international 3×3 basketball and taking steps toward Olympic qualification for Los Angeles 2028.

A nostalgic return to 3×3 prominence

MelMac Sports founder Mel Macasaquit, the driving force behind Pilipinas 3×3, reflected on how the Philippines’ historic FIBA 3×3 Olympic Qualifying Tournament (OQT) appearance in 2019 served as inspiration for the league’s return.

“Back in 2019, from October 11 to October 31, we held two seasons of the MelMac Cup as our final push to secure the country’s spot in the first-ever FIBA 3×3 OQT. Then, on November 1, it was officially announced—the Philippines had made it. At the time, it was uncharted territory, but with the support of FIBA and SBP, we made it happen. The rest is history,” Macasaquit said.

He emphasized that with the support of SBP, SGA, and Smart, the future of Philippine 3×3 basketball looks bright.

Friendly tournament results

A total of 16 teams participated in the friendly tournament, including squads from SBP, Smart, SGA, and media representatives.

The SBP Gilas Boys, a team composed of utility members from Ginebra and TNT, emerged victorious and took home a ₱100,000 cash prize, four sacks of rice from Jillian Rice Mill, and ₱20,000 worth of shoes from Premium Outlets. Each player also received an additional sack of rice, reinforcing the strong athlete support system behind the initiative.

SGA, led by president Jacob Lao, finished second. In a gesture of generosity, Lao donated the ₱30,000 prize money to event staff, highlighting the spirit of unity within the basketball community.

SBP Elite claimed third place, earning a ₱20,000 prize. The team featured cage official Ryan Gregorio, Gilas Women’s 3×3 team manager Larry Fonacier, and Bacon Austria.

A united vision for Philippine basketball

PLDT/Smart First Vice President Jude Turcuato stressed the power of sports in uniting people, citing a Smart-conducted study that demonstrated sports’ ability to bring communities together regardless of background.

“This tournament is proof of that. Through collaboration and a shared goal, we are hopeful that we can propel the Philippines back into the Olympic basketball stage,” Turcuato said.

With a successful launch event, stakeholders reaffirmed their commitment to Pilipinas 3×3, with more details on the league’s full return expected soon.