Australian 3x3 Selection for Vic Metro NITP Athletes
Victorian Metropolitan National Intensive Training Program (NITP) athletes
Abiola Akintola and Brigitte O’Neil have been selected to represent Australia at the coming FIBA Oceania Youth 3-on-3 International Tournament in Coffs Harbour from 26th – 28th of June.
The tournament will be held for girls and boys aged 16 years and under in 2012 - players must be born 1st January 1996 or later. All players in the Coffs Harbour event will be housed in an Athlete Village, to replicate the Olympic experience. The games will be played outdoors, adjacent to Coffs Harbour's main beach. Specially purchased outdoor courts will be used, while music and food stalls will add to the atmosphere of the event.
The following Oceania Federations have entered teams in the 3x3 Youth Championships: Australia (2 boys and 2 girls teams), Fiji, Samoa, Tonga, Cook Islands, New Zealand, New Caledonia, Guam and Vanuatu.
Paul Lankford was also selected to take part in the tournament and will coach the Australia Gold Boys team.
Basketball Victoria State Director of Coaching Ross Wignell voiced his approval with the selection of Abi and Brigitte. “Both athletes have demonstrated outstanding commitment and improvement during their time in the NITP. In addition to their weekly training both gave a great account of themselves at the East Coast Challenge in Sydney in January this year.”
“None of this would have been possible without the support and development by the associations these athletes play with. Diamond Valley and Hawthorn have aided their development and should be congratulated for making this possible,” Wignell added.
“It will be an exciting time not only for Abi and Brigitte, but the sport as well as 3x3 is in its infant stages. I have no doubt both athletes will enjoy the challenge and will represent us well at Coffs Harbour, we wish them all the best of luck!”
3x3 Basketball first appeared on the world stage in 2010 and its popularity is growing fast. The first World Championships will be held in Spain in September this year and there is speculation it will be an Olympic sport in 2016.
For information on the 3x3 tournament click here: http://www.sportingpulse.com/assoc_page.cgi?assoc=3621&pID=1
For information on 3x3 click here: http://www.fiba.com/3x3 or http://www.3x3planet.com/
