3x3 - New rules tested for the first time in the "Mecca of 3x3"

12 Feb 2014

BUCHAREST (3x3) - The Romanian capital - nicknamed the "Mecca of 3x3 basketball" by Sports Illustrated - was host to the first event played under the new rules of the game on 8-9 February 2014.

Some of the most heralded 3x3 names, including #16 player in the 3x3 Individual World Ranking Angel Santana, took part in the Raiffeisen Streetball organised by Sport Arena and the Romanian Basketball Federation. The event was part of an urban sports festival called Street Heroes, which saw concerts on top of skateboarding and rollerblading competitions and was a resounding success with over 4,000 spectators packed in a dismantled airplane motor factory.

"It’s good to play in such atmosphere", said Angel Santana, the heart and soul of Team Bucharest, who is the only team in the world who reached the Final of the FIBA 3x3 World Tour in both editions.

"Romania proved in the past two years that it is a respectable force in 3x3 basketball and the fans love this discipline. We already started the preparation for the 2014 season. I hope that a Romanian player will reach this year the number one position in the 3x3 Individual World Ranking."

For the first time, 3x3 was played under the new rules of the games which feature a couple of changes compared to 2013.

In order to minimise minority situations on the court, fouling out of individual players has been eliminated. In the meantime the punishment for team fouling has increased. Team fouls 7, 8 and 9 shall always be awarded with 2 free throws. The 10th and any subsequent team foul will be always awarded with 2 free throws and ball possession.

Besides, so as to avoid confusion, whenever the defensive team recovers the ball, it must return the ball behind the arc even in case of steal.

"Players and referees assimilated the rules quite well", said Radu Petre, manager of Sport Arena, Romania's leading 3x3 basketball promoter.

"Only a few games ended with an increased number of free throws while the majority of the games showed a batter pace, were very competitive and really fun to watch."

Bucharest will stage two FIBA 3x3 World Tour Qualifiers in 2014 - the full list of World Tour Qualifiers and FIBA 3x3 World Tour schedule will be released shortly - with the traditional Sport Arena Streetball Quest celebrating a historic 10th consecutive season and the Bucharest Challenger running for the third straight year.

FIBA