Basketball New Zealand (BBNZ) is excited to announce that its 3×3 Men’s and Women’s national teams will play in Aotearoa – for the first time ever – this October, when they face Australia in a brand-new Trans-Tasman series.
The 3×3 Tall Ferns and 3×3 Tall Blacks will each compete against the Australian 3×3 national Women’s and Men’s teams over an eight-game International Series across four exciting nights, all as part of the 3×3 Cup at ILT Stadium Southland from 25-28 October. All 16 games of this Trans-Tasman series will be shown live on Sky Sport.
This will be the Australian 3×3 team’s first appearance on New Zealand soil and as such, also the first time the New Zealand teams have played in front of a home crowd in their nine year history.
BBNZ 3×3 Programme Manager, Nikolay Mikhalchuk says he is pleased that New Zealand fans will finally be able to watch their 3×3 national teams in action – in person and against quality competition.
“Our 3×3 Tall Ferns and 3×3 Tall Blacks have been extremely active over the past few years, playing in a combined 78 games around the world; including the Commonwealth Games and 3×3 World Cup in 2022, and the 3×3 Asia Cup this year,” says Mikhalchuk.
“But the reality is that many of the best 3×3 opportunities are happening in Europe, North America and Asia, where the popularity of 3×3 basketball is continuing to skyrocket. So, this is a rare chance for us to bring our 3×3 teams back home, to play arguably our greatest sporting rivals in front of a home crowd for the first time ever. It’s going to be amazing.”
Both Australia and New Zealand have faced each other multiple times over the past two years, including at the 3×3 Asia Cup in Singapore this year. In that tournament the 3×3 Tall Ferns – after going 8-0 in the multi-team competition – fell 11-21 to Australia in the final, as they settled for silver.
Meanwhile the 3×3 Tall Blacks suffered a 13-21 loss to Australia during pool play at this Cup, with Australia going on to claim Silver while New Zealand earned bronze with a 6-2 record.
BBNZ Chief Executive Dillon Boucher says that BBNZ is continuing to invest in its 3×3 programme – and the results are evident.
“We have some incredible 3×3 talent here in New Zealand, and the fact we won silver and bronze at the 3×3 Asia Cup in April, speaks to the growth of our 3×3 programme over the past few years,” says Boucher.
“Our 3×3 teams are routinely taking on the world’s best, and there’s nothing like competing against the top teams to bring the best out of yourself – which is what
this 16-game International Series against Australia offers us. It helps our programme continue to grow, not just in experience but also in popularity.
“3×3 basketball is one of the most rapidly growing sports in the world, as evidenced by its inclusion in both the Commonwealth Games and Olympics. It features a fast, dynamic and thrilling style of play that has hooked basketball fans here and around the globe, so we hope fans flock to watch our national teams take on the Aussies at ILT Stadium Southland this October.”
The 3×3 Tall Ferns and 3×3 Tall Blacks squads will be named in late September.
About the 3×3 Cup
New Zealand’s premier national championship in the fast-paced 3×3 basketball format, is set to return to ILT Stadium Southland in Invercargill for its third consecutive year.
ILT Stadium Southland Event Manager, Joz Shepard expressed her excitement for the venue in the deep South being the first cab off the rank in hosting the Aussie counterparts for this series, with the brand-new competition rounding out the venues third international sporting clash in just two months.
“It’s another fantastic opportunity to not only showcase our venue and our people, but to put Murihiku on the map as a destination. For local fans this is a dream result, one ticket giving you access to see two-time defending champs our Southland Sharks, the Southland Storm, and now the first ever Trans-Tasman series. It’s going to be a mammoth four days of fast paced, non-stop action, bring your whānau, round up your work crew, you don’t want to miss this spectacle!”
The 3×3 Cup will showcase the biggest and best half-court basketball talent in the country across four days of action from October 25th-28th. Featuring 24 Men’s and Women’s teams from across Aotearoa and over 160 games of thrilling entertainment, this is one event you won’t want to miss!
All 3×3 Cup games will also be broadcast live on Sky Sport over two channels throughout the duration of the tournament.
In short:
- 3×3 Tall Ferns and 3X3 Tall Blacks vs Australia International Series + 3X3 Cup
- ILT Stadium Southland in Invercargill, 25-28 October keep up to date by following @iltstadiumsouthland on Facebook, Instagram & TikTok.
- All games will be broadcast live on Sky Sport
- Follow the 3X3 Tall Ferns on: @TallFerns Facebook, Twitter, Instagram. Hashtag: #3X3TallFerns
- Follow the 3X3 Tall Blacks on: @TallBlacks Facebook, Twitter, Instagram. Hashtag: #3X3TallBlacks
