Warrnambool to host 3x3 Street Hustle basketball

There's a master of ceremonies and music pumping in the background.

A 3x3Hustle event, the basketball version of Twenty20 cricket, is coming to Warrnambool for the first time.

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There are already 25 teams entered for the Sunday September 29 National Basketball League street hustle tournament.

It's from 9am to 3pm at The Arc Stadium.

Warrnambool Basketball under 16s squad player Harry McGorm, who has played in a 3x3 (said three times three) competition in Melbourne before, said he was thrilled the format was coming to Warrnambool.

"It's very enjoyable," Harry said.

"It's a much faster game and a lot more physical.

"It's enjoyable because you get to hang out with your friends."

The tournament, open to boys and girls, will have under 12, 14, 16 and under 18 competitions.

The rules include:

Mike McGorm, Harry's dad, is the Warrnambool junior basketball development officer.

He said the tournament was just the beginning of 3x3 basketball in Warrnambool.

"This is our first major tournament, we plan to have a lot of others," he said.

"But this is the first one so we're pretty excited about it.

"I think once the kids play it, they'll understand the game, it's a very different game to a normal game of basketball.

"It's much quicker, the kids touch the ball a lot more.

"It's like a Twenty20 version of basketball."

Mike said the concept had actually been around for a long time.

"It's very popular in Europe and not so much in America," he said.

"It's getting weight in America but in Europe it's massive and people actually have professional careers in it.

"Australia is a brand new market for it."

Mike pointed out that three-on-three basketball is an Olympic sport.

The game, which debuted at the Singapore Youth Olympic Games in 2010, will make its Olympic debut in Tokyo next year.

Mike said 3x3 basketball suited some players better than traditional basketball.

"Different players are better at three-on-three that may struggle in the five-on-five game," he said.

"It's just another avenue and another pathway (for basketball players)."

The junior development officer, who also coaches Warrnambool's under 12 squad team, said there was an advantage of becoming a 3x3Hustle Franchise.

"With our franchise, we get direct entry to all state titles, we don't have to qualify," he said.

"Other associations may have to go through four to five qualifiers whereas we get direct entry in every age group.

"It's exciting for Warrnambool kids that they can progress in another avenue of basketball."

Clubs and associations can purchase a $2000 3x3Hustle Franchise which includes a set of bibs and 10 official 3x3Hustle basketballs.

Franchises are also required to host a minimum of two street hustle events per year.

Mike said the shorter format was more physical.

"The referees let a lot more contact go, so it's a lot more physical than a normal game," he said.

Mike said the next big 3x3 tournament in Warrnambool was scheduled for January.

He said his vision was to have seniors, veterans and junior competitions along with a slam dunk contest and three-pointer competition.

He said he was hoping to have more sponsors jump on board so cash prizes could be awarded to competitors in January.

He said he'd like to attract top basketballers to future tournaments.

"We'd like to grow this 3x3 and have players from all around Australia coming to it eventually," he said.

Registrations for this weekend's 3x3 Street Hustle tournament close on Monday.

Mike said most entered teams had come from Warrnambool and Terang.

He said he'd like to get schools involved in the format.

"Hopefully in term one, I will have a schools competition up and running maybe on Friday night here or whatever spot we have on the schedule," he said.

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