A spot in the FIBA 3×3 World Tour 2025 Season Macau Masters will be up for grabs as the Philippines plays hosts to the Manila Challenger on September 20 and 21 at the Ayala Malls Manila Bay.
Some of the world’s top 3×3 players will see action in Manila representing 16 teams including World Number 1 and 2 Strahinja Stojacic and Marko Brankovic, who will team up representing Ub of Serbia. They will be joined by Nenad Nerandzic and Nemanja Barac, no pushovers themselves as they are ranked 5th and 8th in the world.
“The Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) is elated to be given the opportunity to host this event,” said President Al Panlilio.
“The SBP has hosted many 3×3 events in the past including the 2018 FIBA 3×3 World Cup and our fans are very familiar with the game so it should make for a great atmosphere. It’s an Olympic sport so we need to keep investing in 3×3 with the hopes of making it to that stage in the near future. Hosting the Manila Challenger helps in two ways because it allows our players and the federation to get much needed points for the rankings while also allowing our athletes to test themselves against the world’s best.”
The SBP has exerted efforts to bring this event closer to the Filipino people, giving them the opportunity to witness firsthand the best players in the world while also cheering for the Filipino teams proudly representing the country.
Two of the biggest names in the sport will also be seeing action in Karlis Lasmanis and Nauris Miezis, the 2020 Olympic gold medalists from Latvia. The two have done everything there is to accomplish in 3×3 and are now playing for China’s Chongming. The two 3×3 superstars will team up with China’s top two bets in Xiang Zhi Chao and Zhang Dian Lang.
The rest of the international field includes Ulaanbaatar (Mongolia), Hangzhou (China), Skyliners (Germany), Utrecht (Netherlands), Lugano (Switzerland), Taipei, Seef (Bahrain), Shanghai (China), SG Marina Bay (Singapore), Singapore, and East Jakarta (Indonesia).
“The SBP will be welcoming outstanding 3×3 players so that competition will be top level,” said Executive Director Erika Dy. “For the SBP, it’s an opportunity to show we’re more than capable in hosting a Challenger with the hopes of hosting a Masters level competition in the future. We’re excited to showcase our Filipino talents as well and see how well they can compete at this level.”
Three teams will represent the Philippines in Mandaluyong, Cavite, and Manila. Mandaluyong will be led by high-scoring guards Jeff Manday and Joseph Sedurifa while Mac Tallo is expected to make his long awaited return to FIBA 3×3 action for Manila.
This is supported by SBP’s partners Smart, Arena Plus, B’lue Water, and the Philippine Sports Commission.