(Press Release) - Over 150 players from 19 Indigenous communities across Far North Queensland came together for the annual Deadly 3s basketball tournament at PCYC Edmonton on Saturday 24 November.

Now in its fourth year, Deadly 3s is the only major basketball tournament of its kind in Far North Queensland. Teams come from as far away as Mackay, Mornington Island and the north of Cape York.

Held as part of PCYC Queensland’s Indigenous Community Sport and Recreation Program, the male and female open 3x3 tournament is this year officially endorsed by the International Basketball Federation, FIBA.

"We are delighted to endorse the Deadly 3's; it's great to see the community levels of 3x3 tournament follow FIBA regulations. We think the Indigenous communities are a perfect fit for the structure and it's easier to organize and run. It also opens up a pathway for the community level to transition to the elite tournaments.” said FIBA Oceania Development Manager Annie La Fleur.

“3X3 basketball is the number one urban sporting event in the world. From the first official event that was held at the 2010 Youth Olympics Games to the Olympic inclusion starting from the Tokyo 2020 Games, FIBA has had an ambitious vision for the game. 3x3 is an opportunity for new players, organizers, and countries to go from the streets to the World Stage.”

PCYC Queensland Indigenous Programs General Manager, Andy Cassidy, said the goal of Deadly 3s is to bring communities together in a positive way.

“Deadly 3s is a celebration of Indigenous communities, sport, and culture, where participants come together to play a key role in sports development and community engagement,” said Ms. Cassidy.

“PCYC Queensland would like to thank FIBA for their support at this tournament, as well as our many local community supporters who made this event possible,” she said.

In a move to grow the 3x3 format within Queensland Indigenous communities and build on the success of the Deadly 3’s, the National Basketball League (NBL) and PCYC Queensland officially announced a partnership to deliver the NBL Street Hustle 3x3 under the banner of PCYC Indigenous Programs in 2019.

NBL Chief Operating Officer & 3x3Hustle Managing Director Andy Crook, hailed the announcement as a big step forward for 3x3Hustle as we continue to expand our community engagement into 2019.

“3x3Hustle provides a pathway for all aspiring Indigenous basketball players across the country, whether that be at the grassroots with Street Hustle or all the way through to Pro Hustle at the elite level.”

“Basketball is booming in Australia with over one million people playing the sport, and our national teams are winning medals all over the world. With PCYC Queensland’s introduction of the 3x3 pathway, they will provide Indigenous youth with a clear pathway from playing basketball in the streets through to the world stage. 3x3 will make its debut as an Olympic sport at Tokyo in 2020 and basketball will also adopt the 3x3 format for the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.”

PCYC Queensland South Queensland Indigenous Programs Manager, Daniel Egan, was excited about the potential of delivering the 3x3 Street Hustle format to Indigenous communities.

“I see the 3x3 game as an exciting, flexible model that is adaptable to indoor and outdoor surfaces consistent with PCYC Queensland facilities located within Indigenous communities.

Now PCYC Queensland has partnered with the NBL to deliver the 3x3 Street Hustle, Aboriginals and Torres Strait Island players with having access to a clear pathway that could potentially start players journey from their community to a state, national or international level,” said Mr. Egan.

Deadly 3s, established in 2015, is organized by PCYC Queensland and delivered in partnership with the Queensland Government as part of the Sport and Culture Corroboree Event Series.