January 3×3 tourney starts today

The NMIBF Marianas Arsenal 3×3 Basketball Series for January starts today, Jan. 19, with the championship set for Saturday, Jan. 20 at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium.

The last two 3×3 series in November and December were won by Team Nesian Built, which consists of Coby Santos, Douglas Schmidt, Preston Basa, and Jack Lizama.

Team Nesian Built has a chance of representing NMI in the FIBA Asia 3×3 Cup in Singapore next year.

In the women’s division, Alley-Oopsie Daisies consisting of Irish Pagarao, Cassandra Camacho, Kina Rangamar, and Antonette Labausa won the championship last December.

The series is open to any team whether they want to participate in the FIBA 3×3 Asia Cup or not.

For this series, there are 10 men’s teams and four women’s teams, with Team Nesian Built back to defend their title.

The entrance fee per team is $300. The check must be payable to the Northern Mariana Islands Basketball Federation.

For those who want to join the next series, to be eligible, a player:

• Must possess a U.S. passport not expiring within one year from March 2024.

• Must not have played for the national team in basketball and/or 3×3 for another country in an official FIBA competition of FIBA.

• Must be at least 18 years old by March 1, 2024, and must turn 19 years old or older by the end of 2024.

• Must have participated in at least three FIBA 3×3 competitions.

League format

• Maximum of 12 teams for men and eight for women.

• Single round robin/two pools (Pool A and Pool B).

• Knockout round: Top 4 teams advance from each pool for men and top two teams from each pool for women.

• All games will be played under FIBA 3×3 rules and regulations.

All teams will be given points at the end of each month with the following scoring system:

• 1st place – 50 points

• 2nd place – 40 points

• 3rd place – 30 points

• 4th place – 20 points

• All other teams – 10 points

For more information, call (670) 287-3103 or email nmibasketballfederation@gmail.com.