WHITBY, ON (OBA) – Ontario Basketball announced Thursday it will be hosting its second annual 3x3 basketball event July 6-7, 2013. The event will feature the 3x3 Canada Quest tournament and 3x3 OBA Challenge, hosted at Abilities Centre and Iroquois Park Sports Centre in Whitby.

“Following the success of last year’s 3x3 tournament, we are excited to grow the STET event again this year,” said Michael T. Cvitkovic, executive director, Ontario Basketball. “With the growing emphasis of 3x3 globally and the vast talent of basketball in our province, Ontario Basketball will continue to host events and integrate 3x3 into our development stream and competition model.”

The 3x3 Canada Quest is one of three Canadian berths for the FIBA 3x3 World Tour and is open to adult males. Under the direction of Canada basketball, the 3x3 competitions in Canada will be hosted by Ontario Basketball, Quebec Basketball Federation (Montreal, June 29-30), and Basketball Alberta (Edmonton, June 8-9).

The $250.00 entry fee in Ontario provides teams with a minimum of seven games and a reversible jersey, while the winning team will earn $1,000.00 cash and qualify to represent Canada in the FIBA 3x3 World Tour Masters in Puerto Rico from August 10-12, 2013 (all expenses paid). The 16 best teams from the Masters will then qualify for the FIBA 3x3 World Tour Final, which will be held in Miami, Florida from September 21-23, 2013. The World Tour Masters Final is in Istanbul, Turkey on October 5-6.

Last year, Ontario's representatives in New York were four veterans from Kitchener-Waterloo: Andy Kwiatkowski, Alex Urosevic, Sean Van Koughnett and Gord Wood.

Following a successful pilot in 2012 and in conjunction with the 3x3 Canada Quest, Ontario Basketball will host its inaugural 3x3 OBA Challenge. The 3x3 basketball tournament will feature U11, U13, U15 and U17 age categories for both boys and girls, as well as a wheelchair and Emergency Services division. The team entry fee is $100.00 and guarantees four games.

For the second straight year, Ontario Basketball will be working with brand experience company Flow Experience Inc. to assist in the management of this event.

Support from the corporate community includes partners such as InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG), Spalding, Nike Canada and Town of Whitby.

Abilities Centre is a fully accessible, state-of-the-art multi-purpose facility that is committed to the development of an inclusive and integrated environment, where respect, understanding, cooperation, innovation, and education form the core values of the facility and the people within. Situated on 50 acres of parkland, the Iroquois Park Sports Centre (IPSC) is Canada's largest municipally owned and operated recreation facility.

For more information on Ontario Basketball’s weekend of 3x3, including team registration, click here.

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