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Fiba 3x3 World Tour: Hong Kong to host finals for first time as organisers laud city’s ‘growing importance’ in the Olympic sport

  • City has held regular-season events in the past two seasons, but will stage the 12-team finals for the first time in November
  • Hong Kong’s team will have a chance to qualify to play in the finals via three-team play-off

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Jan Driessen (left) of Amsterdam HiPRO goes for a lay-up at last year’s World Tour Hong Kong Masters. Photo: Xinhua

Hong Kong is to step up its inroads into 3x3 basketball after being chosen as the venue for the Fiba World Tour Finals in November.

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The city has twice previously staged regular-season stops of the annual global tour, but will welcome the finale for the first time when the world’s best 3x3 players face off on November 23 and 24.

It will continue attempts locally to promote basketball’s shortened format, which became an Olympic sport when it debuted at the Tokyo Games three years ago.

Along with Hong Kong being named as host on Thursday, it was announced that the city’s own team would have a pathway to play in the finals via a separate qualifying event.

Spectators watch Egypt v Mongolia at last month’s Olympic qualifying event at Victoria Park. Photo: Yik Yeung-man
Spectators watch Egypt v Mongolia at last month’s Olympic qualifying event at Victoria Park. Photo: Yik Yeung-man

The top 11 teams in the season standings will qualify automatically. The 12th-ranked team, along with hosts Hong Kong and the team with the most combined World Tour and lower-tier Challenger wins – excluding those already qualified – will then battle it out for the remaining spot.

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