THE PBA 3x3 tournament held its official drawing of lots on Saturday to determine the groupings of the 13 teams seeing action in its inaugural staging which kicks off on Nov. 20.
Chairman Richard Bachmann and Commissioner Willie Marcial presided over the proceedings at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig, where they drew two colored balls from separate boxes that bears the groupings and names of all participating ballclubs.
Drawn in Pool A are the TnT Tropang Giga, Limitless Appmasters, Zamboanga Valientes, Platinum Karaoke, and Purefoods TJ Titans.
Barangay Ginebra San Miguel 3x3 meanwhile, leads Pool B together with Terrafirma 3x3, Meralco Bolts 3x3, and Sista Super Sealers.
Rounding up the groupings are CAVITEX Braves, Pioneer Pro Tibay, NorthPort Batang Pier, and the San Miguel Beermen in Pool C.
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The top three teams in Pool A, and top two in Pools B and C, respectively, will advance to the quarterfinals, while the third best teams in Pools B and C figure in a knockout game for the eighth and last quarterfinals berth.
Both the quarterfinals and semifinals are knockout matches, with the two surviving teams figuring in the winner-take-all finals.
The leg champion gets P100,000, runner-up P50,000 and third place P30,000.
Also present during the drawing of lots were tournament director Joey Guanio, Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) Deputy Executive Director Butch Antonio, PBA Deputy Commissioner Eric Castro, and 3x3 national team program director Ronnie Magsanoc, who's also the coach of the Gilas Pilipinas 3x3 men's team that won the gold in the inaugural staging of the event during the 30th Southeast Asian Games.
SBP President Al S. Panlilio also sent a congratulatory message to the PBA's new endeavor.
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"Exciting times ahead and it starts today," said Bachmann in his brief welcome remarks, while thanking the PBA Board, Commissioner Marcial, SBP, the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF), Games and Amusements Board (GAB), FIBA, and Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto. (RG)
