A history of 3-on-3

It is called many things in different parts of the world: 3-on-3, 3 vs. 3, 3 by 3. But FIBA, which has been regulating the sport formally since 2007, has branded half-court basketball 3x3. As the first FIBA 3x3 World Cup unfolded in the Philippines yesterday, how did “larong kalye” (street game) become the dominant urban sport around the world?

In many congested cities and suburban sprawl in the US, families would traditionally put a backboard above the garage door, and the cemented driveway of the carport served as the playing area. There was no equipment blocking the driveway, so it was the ideal pastime. Others put up full-blown goals with posts in their backyards. But it was mainly in two places where street basketball picked up in the crowded American cities. New York gathered the most attention, as the game flowed between the recreation centers to outdoor public courts to smaller street courts. Though the outdoor game was still played full-court, by the 1979’s, three-on-three started to – pardon the pun – pick up.

In 1974, the “Original Gus Macker 3-on-3 Basketball Tournament” was launched in Lowell, Michigan. Scott McNeal (aka Gus Macker) and his brother Mitch gathered some friends and played a tournament for a pot of $18. The tournament, now based out of Balding, Michigan, organizes both indoor and outdoor tournaments in more than 75 cities in the US, with tens of thousands of participants. Participants come from all over the country, some made up of kids, some composed entirely of players in their 50’s. The Gus Macker is mentioned in books on street basketball like “The In-Your-Face Guide to Pick-Up Basketball.”

In the late 1970’s and early 1980’s, NBA journeyman Tom LaGarde started promoting roller basketball, which had players play the game on roller skates. Though this variation of the game is not well known, it survived thanks to the invention of rollerblades or inline skates (which was designed to help speed skaters practice outdoors). In 2009, LaGarde founded the National In-Line Basketball League in New York. The sport has since found a niche, as there are roller skate basketball federations in countries like India and Brazil. 

In the Philippines, formal 3-on-3 basketball competition took off roughly in 1996. The adidas Streetball Challenge was the first major nationwide tournament which offered teams a spot in a world championship. Tournaments were played in Metro Manila, Baguio, Bacolod, Cebu, Davao and Cagayan de Oro. Former PBA player Elmer Reyes was the tournament director. Players were grouped among boys 12 to 15 years old, 16 to 19, and women. Winners from each region were flown to Manila for a national championship. The boys’ 16 to 19 winners were sent to Budapest, Hungary for the World Streetball Championships. Gatorade and Nike also had similar tournaments that were short-lived. In 1996, San Miguel Beer had the “Tatluhan ng Bayan”, at the time the only 3-on-3 tournament solely for adults.

Upon his retirement in the 1990’s, NBA legend Magic Johnson created a made-for-TV basketball tournament with an unusual wrinkle. His 3-on-3 game had singers, actors and retired NBA players competing on a shrunken full court in Hawaii. Though it initially drew interest because of all the celebrities involved, people soon realized it was merely an excuse for him to party with his NBA and Hollywood buddies in paradise, and envious viewers soon lost interest. Be that as it may, half-court basketball (two-on-two, at least) drew attention from Hollywood, as in movies like “White Men Can’t Jump” starring Wesley Snipes and Woody Harrelson.

With growing resistance from football-friendly countries in Europe, the adidas Streetball Challenge gradually shrank to an Asian championship (its last) in 2005. Beating all Asian comers, a San Beda side of Borgy Hermida, JR Tecson, Jay-R Taganas and tournament MVP Bam Gamalinda defeated West Negros, which had a very young Noy Baclao. Other PBA players who’ve played in Streetball tournaments include Enrico Villanueva, BJ Manalo, Wesley Gonzales, Gerard Francisco and JR Quiñahan.

In July of 2011, the NBA held its first 3-on-3 tournament in Southeast Asia at the Mall of Asia, where three courts, a memorabilia exhibit, DJ booth and graffiti walls were set up. Four-time NBA champion Horace Grant, who won three championships with Michael Jordan and and Scottie Pippen, and one with Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal, came over. He was joined by the New York Knicks dancers. The tournament had over 120 teams, with a waiting list of more than 300. That was also the year FIBA made the first major modifications in the rules.