3 × 3 basketball is back in service at fenua. The first elite day of the championship took place at the beginning of the week, with 8 teams present in the ladies and 9 in the men. Next week is for the challengers, before the youngsters take over the following weeks.
Many players come from 5×5 basketball. For them, the objective is simple: to intensify the rhythm of the match to better immerse themselves in the rules and specificities of this discipline in its own right. Club Aorai player Tai Apeang believes it takes “more technique, cardio and contact resistance“, qualities required if she wants to integrate the Tahitian selection.
Ariihau Meuel, player of the Tahitian selection, is enthusiastic: “The 3×3 is starting to make itself known, we have a coach from the national team who has come for an internship, we are preparing the selections for the end of March. The objective is, in the same way as for 5-a-side basketball, to progress at the regional level before claiming to move on to the international level: These are the same players who can go on 3×3. We have the potential to go far, at least at Pacific levelhe says.
For the growth of 3×3, the FTBB invited Richard Billant, national backet coach specializing in 3×3. Structuring and developing this sport in fenua involves long-term work, in close collaboration with leaders and clubs. “We are working towards the next international deadlines, in March and November, for the Pacific Gameshe notes. The 3×3 can only work here, all the ingredients are there. The Federation has ambitions to launch the discipline, it corresponds to the mentality and the conditions here“.
Another prospect: Tahiti’s participation in the Asian Cup. It will first go through the qualifications on April 3 in Singapore. 49 men’s and women’s teams are registered. “We are not qualified yet, we have to go through a preliminary tournament. If we are first in the pool, we participate in the Asian Cup and then we will attack the Pacific Games in November“, announces the coach.
