SEA U-17 event key to S'pore's 3x3 ambitions

Singapore has set its sights high in 3x3 basketball, with ambitions of winning gold at the 2029 SEA Games on home soil and securing a berth at the 2032 Brisbane Olympics.

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To achieve these targets, the Basketball Association of Singapore (BAS) is prioritising youth development, a focus that was evident at the inaugural Southeast Asia Basketball Association (Seaba) Under-17 3x3 tournament from Sept 26 to 28.

While the Republic has staged events such as the Fiba 3x3 Asia Cup multiple times, this was the first time the BAS has hosted a regional 3x3 event.

Beyond commemorating Singapore's 60th year of independence and promoting the format among local fans, the competition also served as an important test for developing future talent and a gauge of the teams' standard.

BAS chief executive Leon Neo said: “These (the SEA Games and Olympic targets) are meaningful and achievable if we do it right.

“What’s most important now is to develop the youth because by 2029 and 2032, it’s really the youth development that makes a difference.

“We are happy that Seaba gave us this opportunity to organise this competition.

“It’s a good benchmark to see where our youth stands among the Southeast Asian countries and we can go back and analyse what our strengths and weaknesses are, then we can work on them.”