Central Australia’s first 3×3 team has had its first taste of competition, notching up two wins over the weekend. Read what opportunities it could potentially bring to the region.
Mo Bamba, who was recently traded to the Lakers from the Orlando Magic, recently opened a basketball facility and community center in Africa. “It wasn’t about me, it was about the kids, every single one of them, how big or small I’ve impacted their lives, seeing their smiles really touched my heart,” he told FOX 35.
The newly formed Alice Springs Centrals, made up of Bart Michael, Elgan Scrutton and Logali Pitia under coach and former Canadian World Tour player Matt Koenig, took to the court for the first time at the 3×3 Hot Import Nights competition in Sydney on Saturday.
Mr Koenig described the event as a “great learning experience” for the squad.
The team was now focusing on preparing for a four week tournament in August, taking on all 13 other teams in the Australian league in the hopes of landing in the top four and competing in Japan.
Alice Springs Centrals 3×3 team Logali Pitia, left, Elgan Scrutton, coach Matt Koenig and Bart Michael are hoping to compete in Japan after smashing their first tournament this weekend. Picture: supplied.
“I’m feeling optimistic, we need some work, but we know what we need to do now, and the guys have got a taste of the competition and know what to expect,” he said.
Founder and general manager of Champions League Basketball, which runs the national 3×3 competition, Matthew Hollard said the creation of an Alice Springs team had been a “passion project” for him over many years.
Unlike traditional basketball, the CLB 3×3 competition revolves around event style tournaments as opposed to home and away fixtures with a “grassroots” approach.
“We go from juniors as young as five right through to opens and elites, with a path that enables kids to play locally and win their way through and play nationally and then eventually internationally,” he said.
“So it’s really exciting to have Alice Springs with a club that can represent on the national and potentially international scale down the track.”
The team practising at the new 3×3 courts at Yipirinya school. Matthew Hollard has flagged hosting pop up events and building more courts around town. Picture: supplied.
He said the league was looking at hosting events in Alice Springs now that a team was established, including a potential school holiday competition and an international competition in early 2024.
“We just came back from a World Tour event in Japan, which had the best 3×3 in the world playing, and many of them are really keen to come to Australia,” he said.
“So we’re looking to set up a major event here early next year and bring all those teams here to Alice Springs.”
The Centrals currently operate out of Yipirinya school’s newly-built 3×3 court, with Mr Hollard flagging the competition was looking to build more courts around Alice Springs as well as holding events out in the community.
“There is a real, genuine excitement about something that can help the current situation here with not having enough stuff for kids to do,” he said.
“We want to be able to make a difference and give these kids another outlet, that’s an immediate thing.
“Long term, it creates a pathway for kids to be able to play, and then as the club goes it’s about refereeing opportunities, it’s about management opportunities, it’s about employment opportunities, there’s so many things we can offer as we start to grow.”