JEDDAH — For the second year in a row, the FIBA 3x3 World Tour has returned to Jeddah once again, this year under the circumstances of COVID-19, the final round will be held with no attendance of basketball enthusiasts on a court situated on the Corniche of Jeddah Governorate installed with large television screens in the vicinity of the stadium to broadcast crowd interaction with the tournament matches live from the event.

This was announced on Thursday here in Jeddah during the official press conference with the presence of Abdulrahman Al-Masaad, chairman of the Saudi Basketball Federation, Ignacio Soriano, FIBA 3x3 head of events and partnerships and Dr. Ghassan Tashkandi, head of the organizing committee for the World Tour Finals.

Al-Masaad said: “We are delighted to host the final round of FIBA 3x3 World Tour again in Jeddah with the support of the Sports Ministry and “Quality of Life” program under the supervision of the FIBA. We are now ready to host the best teams in the world, to enjoy basketball and to welcome back the devoted FIBA 3x3 world tour.”

Soriano said: “As you all know the FIBA 3x3 World Tour is ready to kick off its final round here in Jeddah. We are now finally here for the 11th round in the middle of the coronavirus crisis. We are happy to be here. We complied and we follow all the protocols and measures under the instructions of the Ministry of Health and hope everyone all over the world will enjoy it virtually.”

Dr. Tashkandi briefed media representatives on all details of the tournament. He said, “We expect a great tournament with $250.000 in prize money divided across the top five teams. The tournament will be streamed live.”

He added: “A 3X3 wheelchair basketball game will be held under the supervision of the Jeddah Club for the Disabled, and the first two competitions in the name of the Slam Dunk with the participation of three players, including Saudi Musab Qadi, will be held in the second day of the tournament.”

“The winner will receive a financial prize sponsored by the Quality of Life Program, "he said, while confirming that the Dunkin Devil team has come from Slovenia to do acrobatic games for the basketball game."

The Teams qualified to the final round in Jeddah (with tour standings): 1. Riga (LAT) - 320 pts; 2. Liman (SRB) - 320 pts; 3. NY Harlem (USA) - 179 pts; 4. Novi Sad (SRB) - 170 pts; 5. Utena Uniclub (LTU) - 150 pts; 6. Jeddah (KSA) - 140 pts; 7. Lausanne Katapult (SUI) - 135 pts; 8. Piran (SLO) - 130 pts; 9. Sakiai Gulbele (LTU) - 118 pts; 10. Ub (SRB) - 98 pts; 11. Ulaanbaatar MMC Energy (MGL) - 53 pts; 12. Amsterdam (NED) - 50pts. — SG