The third leg of the Youthtown 3X3 Quest Tour gave Wellingtonians a taste of top-level basketball today, with players delighting the waterfront crowd at Odlins Plaza – and one team booking themselves a place in the Quest Finals.
With 27 teams registered for the Wellington stop of the popular 3X3 Quest Tour, BBNZ staff and volunteers worked hard to ensure that both players and spectators could operate safely under the current red settings. The competition included three categories: the Open Mens, Senior Female and U17 Male.
The Open Mens category saw 14 teams battling it out for a place in 3X3 Quest Tour Finals in March, with BNL Black facing off against TOA in the finals; TOA – led by Wellington Saint’s latest NBL signing, Francis Mulvihill – earning a hard-fought 17-15 victory to remain undefeated on the day.
In the Senior Female category, six teams faced off against each other; Capital Swish proving themselves to be a class above the rest. They remained undefeated on the #2 court and easily won their final match 17-8 against Ball Never lies.
The U17 Male category saw the Ballerz battle their way through pool play, earning themselves a spot in the final alongside BNL U17 Boys and going on to win that game 11-7.
TOA’s Mulvihill – who also won the event’s dunk contest, thanks to a perfect score on his one-handed 360 flush – says he enjoyed the atmosphere at the outdoor event.
“It’s been great, we came here to win the whole thing and go to Auckland [for the Finals]; if we can win that and then as soon as Covid goes away, we’ll hope to head overseas for the 3X3 World Tour,” says Mulvihill.
“This is my third time in the Quest Tour and it’s nice playing outside, especially when it’s a nice day like this.”
The Youthtown 3X3 Quest Tour heads to Christchurch next, with a change of venue – the event now tipping off at Pioneer Stadium on Saturday 12 February. Teams can register now at play.fiba3x3.com
Youthtown 3X3 Quest Tour – Wellington Category Winners
Open Mens – TOA
Francis Mulvihill
Klein Salmon
Nathaniel Salmon
Levi Ware
Senior Female – Capital Swish
Jacinta Beckley
Parris Mason
Sariah Penese
Lilly Taulelei
U17 Male – Ballerz
Kaia Berridge
Jacey Tanoa
Oliver Taylor
Seth Whinney
Dunk Contest
Francis Mulvihill (TOA)
