GBF shifts National 3×3 Championship to October 18-19

The Guyana Basketball Federation (GBF) has announced that its National 3×3 Championship, originally scheduled for September 27–28, will now be held on October 18–19 at the Seawall Bandstand.

According to a GBF release, the tournament was pushed back to allow for wider participation and better planning, given its importance.

This year’s event will play a crucial role in selecting the team that will represent Guyana at the FIBA 3×3 AmeriCup, scheduled for November 27–30 in León, Mexico.

A total of 16 teams will compete for national bragging rights, six more than last year’s edition, which was won by the Renegades.

The tournament winners will walk away with G$500,000, while second place will earn G$200,000. The third and fourth-place finishers will collect G$100,000 and G$50,000, respectively.

GBF President Michael Singh emphasised that the championship will serve as the sole selection process for the AmeriCup roster.

“We want a transparent selection process for the AmeriCup,” Singh said.

“The 3×3 AmeriCup is an important fixture on our international calendar. In fact, we’ve only missed it once due to unforeseen circumstances. Every other year, we’ve proudly represented Guyana, often as one of the few English-speaking Caribbean nations in the competition.”

Singh praised the growth of 3×3 basketball locally and the support from both the Government of Guyana and corporate sponsors.

“For our last two AmeriCup appearances, the Government covered all costs– registration fees, flights, per diems for players– which has been a huge boost. That level of backing is something we truly appreciate, and it gives us the platform to focus on preparation and performance,” Singh added.

This year, the GBF plans to adopt a more competitive approach to preparation. Once the national team is selected, Singh hopes to enter them into multiple stops on the international 3×3 circuit to face high-caliber opposition.

“In past years, we didn’t give our teams enough chances to compete against elite talent before the AmeriCup,” Singh admitted. “This year, we want to change that by testing our squad in top-tier 3×3 competitions so they’re battle-ready when they step onto the court in Mexico.”

At last year’s National 3×3 Championship, the Renegades– featuring Jude Corlette, Travis Belgrave, Nikkoloi Smith, and Dominic Vincente– defeated a stacked Linden side boasting Harold Adams, Shane Webster, Shelroy Thomas, and Orlan Glasgow, 21–15 in the final at the National Gymnasium.

Ultimately, Belgrave, Vincente, Adams, and Smith went on to represent Guyana at the 3×3 AmeriCup in Puerto Rico, gaining valuable international experience.