3x3 - U18 World Championships set to tip off, close first 3x3 season

ALCOBENDAS (FIBA 3x3 U18 World Championships) - The second edition of the FIBA 3x3 U18 World Championships gets underway on Friday just outside the Spanish capital city of Madrid.

A total of 224 players making up 56 teams from 40 different countries will take part in the three-day (28-30 September) tournament where 18 medals and six world titles are at stake.

The Boys' 3x3 tournament will be disputed by 32 teams, while 24 will contest the Girls' 3x3 tournament.

New Zealand and Spain, respectively, are the defending champions having triumphed at the first-ever FIBA 3x3 U18 World Championships held in Rimini, Italy, last year.

A new addition to the tournament is a Mixed tournament which consists of eight different national sides that sees boys and girls from a same country join forces.

As well as the teams competitions, there are also contests for players to individually showcase their skills: the Samsung Shootout, the Nike Dunk Contest and the 2 Ball Contest.

"This is certain to be a breathtaking weekend of 3x3 basketball as Alcobendas becomes the internationa basketball capital," said FIBA Secretary General and IOC member Patrick Baumann.

"We would like to thank the Municipality of Alcobendas for their hospitality and their long-standing support for basketball.

"Our thanks also go to the Spanish Basketball Federation (FEB) who are organising their second international 3x3 event with us (FIBA) following the successful 3x3 World Tour stop held in Madrid's Plaza de Toros.

"This event has a very special significance as it concludes our first full season of elite 3x3 basketball and also it was the first-ever international 3x3 tournament organised by FIBA."

FEB President Jose Luis Saez explained that the tournament was one for all to enjoy.

"The FIBA 3x3 U18 World Championships in Alcobendas is made possible by the interest and excitement we ahve for this project, which we want to be for everyone," he said.

"This is why we're going to make the three days of competition a real party on and off the courts."

The choice of Alcobendas as a venue for the 3x3 tournament is an inspired one as the city famously was the site of the Pedro Ferrandiz Foundation, named after the most successful Spanish coach.

The building that housed the Foundation is now known as "Espacio 2014" and serves as the headquarters for the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup to be held in Spain.

"The 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup will be played in six cities: Granada, Sevilla, Bilbao, Las Palmas, Madrid and Barcelona. The seventh will be Alcobendas," said Mr Saez.

"This is where we have our headquarters. Starting in October and all the way through the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup, people will be able to come and see the history of Spanish basketball here."

The FIBA 3x3 U18 World Championships gets underway at 13:00 local time (GMT +2) on Friday.

For more information, go to the event website spain2012.fiba.com.

FIBA