NEW DELHI: The second season of India’s only FIBA-recognised league, 3×3 Pro Basketball League Indian Sub-continent (3BL), will be held from August 2nd to September 29th across five cities in India.
In a pioneering move, 3BL is also introducing a women’s 3×3 basketball league, which will be conducted simultaneously alongside the men’s league.
The second season of 3BL will feature 12 teams with the best of Indian basketball talent, both men and women, competing in 9 rounds over the period of two months to emerge champions. In an association with the government of Punjab to promote basketball in the state that has produced many of India’s best talent, the 9 rounds of 3BL will be conducted in Chandigarh, Amritsar, Mohali, Jalandhar and Patiala.
In an effort to provide a platform to Indian female basketball players and build 3×3 basketball at grassroots level in the country, a professional women’s league for 3×3 basketball will be brought to India for the first time 3BL Season 2. Indian women have been making massive strides in basketball over the past few years and have delivered excellent performances. Major international women’s basketball tournaments like FIBA Women’s Asia Cup 2017, FIBA U16 Women’s Asian Championship 2017, FIBA U18 Asian Championship 2018 and the upcoming FIBA Women’s Asia Cup 2019 have also been hosted in India. The women’s league in 3BL will provide an opportunity to the female basketball players to explore a professional career in basketball and further improve the sporting environment for women’s sports in India.
By conducting the league over nine rounds, 3BL will help increase the points for the Indian federation in the FIBA 3×3 Rankings, which is the decider for a berth on the qualification round for the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020. The winners of the men’s rounds will also qualify for spots on two FIBA 3×3 World Tour Masters and three Challengers.
The try-outs for the second season of 3BL will be held on 19th July 2019 for the women’s league and for 20th July 2019 for the men’s league at Siri Fort Sports Complex in New Delhi. Basketball players interested in participating can register here: www.3x3bl.com
Speaking about the second season of 3BL, Rohit Bakshi, League commissioner, 3BL, said: “We are thrilled to bring 3BL back for a second season after the resounding success of the first season last year. This year, our aim is to make 3BL bigger and better and make a significant impact on India’s FIBA 3×3 Ranking to give us a shot to qualify for Tokyo 2020. We have also introduced the women’s league this time to give a platform to all the fantastic and aspiring female basketball players in India. Basketball Federation of India and The Government of Punjab is supporting 3BL in improving the sporting environment in India and we will be working together to ensure India becomes a dominant force in 3×3 Basketball.”
