SINGAPORE – Ever since he chanced upon the Michael Jordan: Come Fly With Me movie at a CD shop when he was six, Tay Ding Loon’s life has revolved around basketball.
He grew up playing it and was with the Singapore Slingers for seven seasons, but when the veteran player stepped on the 3x3 court at the end of 2023, he felt like a rookie again.
While the fundamentals of the traditional 5v5 and 3x3 formats are similar, the two are different in many other aspects. The latter has fewer players, a smaller court and moves at a faster pace which leaves less room for error.
Tay, 29, said: “As basketball players, some of us move without thinking, it’s natural. When we play with the Slingers, we know where each player is going and where to move in specific situations.
“It was tough because when I first went in, some of them had been training a while with (national 3x3 head) coach (Lazar) Rasic.”
Tay joined the 3x3 national team after the Asean Basketball League and the Slingers went into dormancy in November 2023, as a way to keep fit and continue playing the sport.
He had participated in an overseas 3x3 tournament 12 years ago, but said the game has changed significantly over the past decade.
The 3x3 format has long been played in streets and gyms worldwide. Starting in the 1980s, it was popular in urban areas where there was often only one basket and a half-court available.
It went fully mainstream when it was introduced to the Olympic roster at the Tokyo Games in 2021.
While the 5v5 game is between 40 and 48 minutes long (Fiba or NBA) and split over four quarters, the 3x3 variant is played over a single 10-minute period or until one team scores 21 points.
On the appeal of 3x3, Tay said: “It’s very fast. In 3x3 everyone is involved in the game equally, nobody plays more or less.”
The Basketball Association of Singapore has also been trying to develop the local 3x3 scene as they eye a podium finish at the 2029 SEA Games at home and a spot at the 2032 Olympics in Brisbane.
It has been holding a national 3x3 league, with monthly tournaments at different malls across the island.
There are 10 to 16 teams in each of the four categories: men’s and women’s Open and Under-18. The Republic has also hosted international competitions like the ongoing Fiba 3x3 Asia Cup, which ends on March 31.
Like Tay, national women’s team captain Tang Choy Ting also took some time to adjust to 3x3.
“Three-on-three was more intense, I had to do more thinking and be even faster,” said the 30-year-old, who had represented Singapore in 5v5 at the 2015 and 2017 SEA Games. “In 5v5, there’s more time to rest, more time to think. For 3x3, I had to be really fast, it’s way different.
“I like the feeling of being in a team and having each other’s backs. That’s the main reason why I continued.”
Three tips from a pro
- Be versatile – In 3x3, you have to keep moving and find a way to score. Players often have to take on multiple roles on court and everyone is involved throughout the game.
- Strength and conditioning is crucial – There is a lot of contact, so building strength helps prepare you for all kinds of pushing in a match. It can also help prevent injuries.
- Hone your shooting – Games are short. Either 10 minutes or until a team scores 21 points. So every opportunity counts. Tay, a coach at the ActiveSG Basketball Academy, uses this acronym BEEF to help his players improve their shooting. It stands for balance, eyes, elbow and follow through.
Fun fact
A 3x3 basketball ball is the same weight as the official size 7 basketball used in Fiba’s official men’s 5x5 games but it is slightly smaller in diameter.
