India’s Champion 3×3 Basketball team ‘Gurugram 3BL’ to compete in Netherlands Tour
3BL Season 2 Champion ‘Gurugram 3BL’ team comprising Indian origin stars Bikramjit Gill, Inderbir Singh Gill, Kiran Shastri alongside Steven Wesley is in Netherlands for multiple ‘3x3NL Tour 2021’ events.
In the national 3BL league, the ‘Gurugram 3BL’ team is known as ‘Gurugram Masters’ and is owned by Mr Vikas Bansal and Mr Rajeev Tiwari.
Their first tournament in Netherlands will be in Katwijk on 24th July, with Gurugram 3BL’s two pool games tipping off at 8:30pm & 9:50pm IST vs local Netherland teams ‘SlamandSplashFam’ and ‘DRRReries’ respectively.
3×3 Pro Basketball League (3BL) is India’s first and only professional basketball league in the shorter 3×3 format, that has exclusive rights from the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) and the National Federation (BFI).
Two Seasons of 3BL have been successfully conducted so far, and the dates for the upcoming Season 3 will be announced keeping in mind COVID related health & safety protocols.
Delhi/Netherlands, 24th July 2021: After competing in France, the Gurugram 3BL team is now in Netherlands to participate in the ‘3x3NL Tour 2021’.
The Gurugram 3BL team will be competing in the following tournaments as part of the ‘3x3NL Tour 2021’:
- 3x3NL Tour in Katwijk on 24th July, 2021
- 3x3NL Pro Cup in Barneveld* (subject to confirmation) on 31st July, 2021
- Two separate 3x3NL Masters tournaments in Utrecht on 14th & 15th August, 2021 (which will be Live Streamed)
Among these tournaments, the ones on 31st July and 14th August are especially significant as they act as pre-qualifiers for the FIBA 3×3 World Tour 2021 Challenger event scheduled in Utrecht later this September.
About the 3x3NL Katwijk tournament on 24th July
3x3NL Katwijk is part of the 3x3NL Tour 2021, the Open 3×3 basketball championships of the Netherlands. There are 33 participating teams across different categories, and Gurugram 3BL is in the ‘Elite Men’ category.
There are six teams in the Elite Men category, and Gurugram 3BL is in Pool A. The top two teams from each Pool progress to the knock-out stage.
As the only foreign team in its Pool, Gurugram 3BL’s first game will be against Netherland’s SlamandSplashFam on 24th July at 8:30pm IST, followed by against DRRReries at 9:50pm.
Further tournament details can be accessed here.
Training with Dutch National Teams
Since 16th July, the Gurugram 3BL team has been training with the Dutch 3×3 National teams. They even ‘scrimmaged’ with the Olympic bound 3×3 Senior Men’s Dutch team for a day followed by sessions with the U23 team and with other international 3×3 players in Amsterdam.
“Just being able to practice with fellow 3×3 players and having coaches around has been great. We are very hopeful for a good outcome,” Kiran ‘Tornado’ Shastri, the team’s sharpshooter said on this week’s episode of 3BL Talks.
“This team is put together with the hope to bring Indian Basketball back on the map like we did in 2016-17,” said Inderbir ‘The General’ Singh Gill, on an previous episode of 3BL Talks earlier this month. “We are trying to play in a lot of different tournaments so that we can get more practice as a team and gain more experience.”
About ‘Gurugram 3BL’ or ‘Gurugram Masters’
In the Indian National 3BL league, the ‘Gurugram 3BL’ team is known as ‘Gurugram Masters’ and it won the title in Season 2. The team is owned by Mr Vikas Bansal and Mr Rajeev Tiwari. The Gurugram Masters team secured the Qualifying Draw in the 2021 FIBA 3×3 World Tour Challengers events by virtue of being the Champion team in 3BL Season 2, as well as the combined ranking points of its individual team members.
On the international circuit, the Gurugram Masters team is branded as ‘Gurugram 3BL’. It comprises Indian origin stars Bikramjit Gill, Inderbir Singh Gill, Kiran Shastri alongside Steven Wesley. While Bikramjit Gill is from Canada, Inderbir Singh Gill, Kiran Shastri and Steven Wesley are from the United States.
Follow Gurugram Masters on social media:
About 3×3 Basketball
3×3 Basketball is the fastest and shortest format of Basketball in the world. All you need is one hoop, a half-court and six players. Games can be staged outdoor and indoor in iconic locations to bring basketball directly to the people. It’s a 10-minute game. Highest score in 10 minutes or first team to score 21 points wins. 3×3 is not only FIBA’s second official discipline but will be played at the Tokyo 2021 Olympics, the Commonwealth Games – Birmingham 2022 and at the Paris 2024 Olympics.
FIBA 3×3 Video for more details: FIBA 3×3
About 3×3 Pro Basketball League Indian Sub-continent (3BL)
3BL, 3×3 Pro Basketball League Indian Sub-continent, is an intellectual property of YKBK Enterprise Pvt. Ltd. It has 6 Women’s teams and 12 Men’s teams competing in the professional circuit. 3BL is the exclusive rights holder for 3×3 basketball in India officially approved and recognized by FIBA, International Basketball Federation, and BFI, Basketball Federation of India.
3BL is the only exclusive provider for an opportunity to compete at FIBA 3×3’s international circuit such as Challengers and World Tours from the Indian Sub-continent directly.
More information at www.3x3bl.com
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About YKBK Enterprise Pvt Ltd
YKBK Enterprise Pvt Ltd is the exclusive rights holder for conducting 3×3 professional basketball leagues in the Indian Sub-continent, which includes six countries i.e. India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal, Maldives and Bhutan. It also owns the rights to host a 3×3 professional basketball league in the Kingdom of Thailand located in South East Asia.
Founded by Mr. Yoshiya Kato (Chairman, 3BL) and Mr. Rohit Bakshi (League Commissioner, 3BL) in 2017, YKBK has a clear vision to grow and promote 3×3 culture and its potential throughout the Indian Sub-continent and South East Asia by organizing a Professional Circuit, Grassroots Programs and build indoor 3×3 basketball facilities for the betterment of existing and upcoming players. Email: info@ykbkenterprise.com
