BASKETBALL – BAHRAIN’S basketball fans are in for a treat this week with six straight days of high-intensity 3x3 action, featuring some of the best teams from around the world and in the kingdom.
Three straight tournaments are scheduled to take place at a specially built venue at Bahrain Financial Harbour in Manama. Headlining the programme is the highly anticipated Manama Final – the season-ending competition of the 2025 Fiba 3x3 World Tour, to be held on Friday and Saturday.
Meanwhile, taking place today and tomorrow will be the opening round of the first-ever Bahrain Basketball Association (BBA) 3x3 Men’s League, featuring all the clubs under the BBA’s umbrella.
Then, on Wednesday and Thursday, the Gulf Basketball Association (GBA) U21 3x3 Championships will take place, with the participation of junior teams from across the GCC.
In preparation for these exciting events, Bahrain Olympic Committee (BOC) vice-president Shaikh Isa bin Ali bin Khalifa Al Khalifa, who is also the organising committee chairman of the Manama Final, made an inspection visit yesterday to the courts that will host the upcoming games.
Shaikh Isa was accompanied by General Sports Authority CEO Dr Abdulrahman Askar, BOC secretary general Faris Al Kooheji, Information Ministry Under-secretary Yousif Mohammed Albinkhalil, and representatives from both the Interior Ministry and Tourism Ministry.
Shaikh Isa was given a detailed explanation of the organisational and technical developments at the site, which are being built to the highest of international standards that reflect the advanced sporting reputation of the kingdom and its ability to host top-level events.
Shaikh Isa was also briefed on the fan zone that will be on hand during the Manama Final, with plenty of entertainment and unique fan experiences for the whole family.
The curtain-closing event on this year’s Fiba 3x3 World Tour will feature 14 teams, two of whom are representing hosts Bahrain, with long-time 3x3 powerhouses Riffa joined by series debutants Seef. They will be vying for a share of the total prize purse of more than $200,000.
Riffa are straight into the main draw after securing their place in the tournament as one of this year’s 10 top-ranked teams. They are to be joined in pool play by the Serbian trio of Ub, Liman, and Partizan, Amsterdam Rabobank from the Netherlands, Miami from the US, Chongming and Hangzhou from China, Raudondvaris Hoptrans from Lithuania, Toulouse from France, and Vienna from Austria.
Seef, on the other hand, earned their spot in the Manama Final as the host wild card, and they will have to go through the qualifying draw, where they will face Skyliners from Germany and Lugano from Switzerland for just one available berth in the tournament proper.
The qualifiers are to be held on Friday from 10am, with the pool games starting from 3.10pm. The knockout rounds, culminating with the final, will take place on Saturday.
Meanwhile, the all-new BBA 3x3 Men’s Basketball League will feature six rounds in its 2025-26 calendar.
The BBA has allocated a total of $8,000 in prize money for the top three teams in the campaign’s finale. Games today are scheduled to begin from 5pm with another series of contests to be played tomorrow. The title-deciding clashes of this league then will be held on Saturday as part of the concluding day’s programme of the Fiba 3x3 World Tour’s Manama Final.
On Wednesday and Thursday, the GBA U21 3x3 Championships will feature both men’s and women’s teams. Games are scheduled to be held from 4pm onwards.
All are welcome to attend the three tournaments. Entry is free.
patrick@gdnmedia.bh
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