One of the world’s fastest growing sports properties lit up Bahrain this weekend as the frenetic, all-action FIBA (International Basketball Federation) 3×3 World Tour returned to Manama.
The 3×3 basketball format has enjoyed a meteoric rise in recent years, with its half-court set-up, 10-minute matches and festival-like atmosphere making it an engaging product for young people and families. At the heart of this is the FIBA 3×3 World Tour, which is entering the crunch stage of its 2024 season.
In Bahrain, seven of the current top 10 teams were on show, with Chongming beating Paris in the final. The Chinese side triumphed 22-20, leapfrogging its French counterpart to reach the top the 2024 standings.
Home favorite Riffa, ranked third this season heading into the event, made it to the quarter-finals before bowing out in front of a partisan crowd at the purpose-built 1,000-seater outdoor arena at Bahrain Harbour.
Riffa’s team is actually made up entirely of Belgians, who previously played under the ‘Antwerp’ name before Bahrain stepped in to offer investment – in return for naming rights.
“Everybody knows that we are from Antwerp but we have a great relationship with Bahrain and Manama so it does feel like a home game,” player Dennis Donkor told Al Arabiya English in Manama.
“The crowd cheers for us. It is more pressure as we play in front of people who really expect us to win for them but it’s a nice feeling. We like playing in Bahrain and the region – the crowd knows the sport, though it is challenging in the heat.”
Although 3×3 is rapidly growing in popularity, teams still rely almost entirely on sponsorship to remain professional. Donkor says he and his teammates owe a lot to Bahrain.
“For a 3×3 team to exist and keep existing, it’s not easy – you need sponsors for travel and paying the players. We also have some help from the Belgian federation but that is tied to results with the national team so if that falls away we have nothing.
“We are really happy with the support from Bahrain and hope to keep building a good relationship and hopefully continue for many more years.”
As a spectator sport, 3×3 is flourishing – with audiences getting bigger both in person and across the World Tour’s social media accounts.
“It’s an energetic, fast-paced sport,” Donkor explained, dripping in sweat after another hard-fought match. “There is never a boring moment in it and that is what attracts audiences.
“Even people who don’t watch basketball can be easily drawn. The games are shorter, but more competitive and exciting – and are often decided by one shot.”
This year’s Olympics was arguably 3×3’s biggest global platform yet. Although played in Tokyo too, 3×3 is a sport that relies heavily on crowd energy; in Paris, its blend of music, entertainment and high-octane on-court action made it one of the most watched events of the Games.
“Our target as is to have 12 teams instead of eight in 2028 so we can make sure every continent is represented in Los Angeles,” FIBA President Sheikh Saud Ali Al Thani told Al Arabiya English.
“We have the approval from the IOC and feel this will improve the competition.
“And I hope to see Gulf nations competing in 3×3 at the 2028 Olympics.”
Qatari Sheikh Saud, who was elected as FIBA chief in August 2023, has been happy with the role the region has played in the rise of 3×3. The Manama Masters sits between World Tour events in Abu Dhabi and NEOM as part of the competition’s Middle East swing.
“For a long time the Gulf has been championing 3×3 – first it was the UAE and Qatar, now we are seeing events in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia too,” Sheikh Saud said. “I hope we will see more teams from the Gulf competing regularly in tournaments and it has been great to see all six GCC countries represented by women’s teams here in Bahrain.”
The Manama Women’s Cup gave amateur Gulf teams the chance to compete alongside the main men’s roster, with competitors from Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Kuwait, Oman and Qatar take to the court. In the final Saudi Arabia’s Team Riyadh made history, winning the Kingdom’s first international 3×3 women’s trophy.
“It feels amazing,” Riyadh’s tournament MVP Kawther ‘Koko’ Khayyat beamed, after an impressive victory over Bahrain’s Zallaq in the final. “It was so hard today, physically and mentally, and we had to really work to beat a tough Doha team in the semi-final.
“My teammates trust me and I love that; I am MVP because of them. It is the first time we have played in a final and we really wanted to do our best and make Saudi Arabia proud.
“We did it and I hope this is the first of many trophies. We made history.”
Later on Saturday night, in the main men’s event, a new champion was crowned as Chinese team Chongming followed in the footsteps of last year’s winner Partizan.
“We have seen incredible performances from players from all around the world,” Sheikh Isa bin Ali Al Khalifa, Vice President of the Bahrain Olympic Committee and Chairman of the Supreme Organizing Committee of the Championship, told Al Arabiya English at the event.
“3×3 is growing. We see it here year on year with the fans who attend the events and it shows how important 3×3 is to the Gulf region.”
