3-on-3 basketball tourny to invade Hub City.

A13

Hanne Armstrong

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"The Toronto Raptors team has a unique partnership with the NBA," says David Defreitas, Manager of Hockey and Basketball Development for Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment. "As this is the only NBA team in Canada we have an obligation to grow the game in this country, and the NBA 3-on-3 presented by Rogers Tournament Tour is just one way we do this."

And if the number of registered teams for this weekend's Tournament in Moncton is anything to go by, the sport is growing just fine in this area, thank you very much. Over 180 teams are signed up, each with an average of four members. That's at least 720 people ready to dribble, pass and shoot during this round-robin event. Throw in a few cheering fans for each team, and you've got the makings of a great couple of days.

Check-in dates are Friday July 3 in the evening, and first thing Saturday morning, at the Moncton Coliseum. After that, it's play ball. There can be up to 30 games going on at any one time, especially early in the event. For the fourth year in a row the Coliseum parking lot will be marked and divided into 35 basketball courts with bleachers set up all around the playing area, so players from eight to 80 can show their moves and skills 3-on-3.

If you're surprised that over 700 people will congregate to play a few games of basketball in a parking lot, each lasting a maximum of 20 minutes, don't be. According to Chuck Beyea, who's the Executive Director of Basketball New Brunswick in Rothesay, New Brunswick has the highest per capita percentage of people playing basketball of any province in the country. And move over, NHL, there are kids here who live in hopes of making it to the NBA. Is the 3-on-3 Tournament a possible stepping stone to stardom?

"Absolutely not," says David. "If you're looking to make the league, this is not the event for you, this is not a scouting event. It's about bringing the basketball community together and creating as much as we can an NBA, Air Canada Centre atmosphere."

How do you create an NBA atmosphere in a Moncton parking lot? Apart from the games going on, there are contests, prizes and plenty of handouts. The Raptors' Manager of Games Operations, who is responsible for entertainment at the ACC, is on the tour to make sure fans and participants have an experience they won't soon forget. On both days the tournament shuts down from noon to 1 p.m. and the antics and activities of the Halftime Show take over.

"There's autographed merchandise," David says, "trivia games about basketball, and there's the Dizzy Bat contest, where people get spun around a bat, given a basketball, and try to make a basket. And our mascot, The Raptor will be putting on his own version of a jump show. He's actually been voted the number one mascot in the NBA four times, and he's lots of fun to watch."

And there's no admission charge. You get to watch your favourite teams and players, win prizes and soak up a bit of NBA ambience all for free. You could even meet the new Raptors head coach, Jay Triano, who is on the tour this year. Worried that the quality of play in a tournament like this might not be worth watching? No fear. Some of the 15 staff who travel with the Tour come from Atlanta, and their job is to supervise the 50 excellent Basketball NB referees in the ways of the tournament.

Teams of all ages and skill levels will be competing, each playing a minimum of three games, and possibly six or seven. Adult divisions for players over 18 range from recreational to competitive, to the elite, hardcore Sirius Ballers. There are three youth divisions to watch as well, beginning with the Black Diamond Cheesestrings for ages 12 and under, and separate divisions for 13 to 15-year-olds and 16 to 18-year-olds. The top men's and women's Sirius teams of the weekend win $1,000, but David stresses that most Tournament prizes are not cash but medals, which is in keeping with the Tour's focus on fun and celebration of the game.

The first games start Saturday morning at 9 a.m. For information and game-day updates, go to nba3on3.com. For fun, prizes and excitement, go to the Coliseum parking lot this weekend. Game on.