Sports Press Committee
After the overwhelming success of last year’s edition at Katara, the FIBA 3x3 World Tour Masters has returned to Doha once again, thanks to the efforts of Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC) and Qatar Basketball Federation (QBF). This year the Al Gharafa Beach Games Area, situated next to QBF headquarters, will be the venue of the event November 20 & 21 (Friday & Saturday).
Fourteen teams including two from the United States of America and one from the host country, Qatar will compete for top honors.
On Wednesday, the organisers held an official press conference in the presence of Ali Al Malki, Secretary-General, QBF, and Ignacio Soriano, FIBA 3x3 Head of Events & Partnership.
On the occasion, QBF presented the agreements with the official sponsors of the event: Ultra Sports, McDonald’s, Qabayan Radio 94.3.
Ali Al Malki, said, “We are delighted to welcome everyone today in our home. We are excited to host FIBA 3x3 World Tour Masters once again in Doha. We had to wait several months for this great sporting event to return to Qatar, because of the world pandemic. Qatar Basketball Federation is a firm supporter of 3x3 and with the assistance of Qatar Olympic Committee, we made all the necessary preparations, we respected all the rules imposed by the Ministry of Health and the time has finally come. We are now ready to host the best teams in the world, to enjoy basketball and to welcome back the devoted fans of 3x3.
“The next coming months are very important in Qatar’s efforts to qualify a team on 3x3 at the Tokyo Olympic Games and we will do our very best. Today begins an exciting period for Qatar Basketball starting with the 3x3 and we continue next week with the Asian Cup qualifying tournament for our national team. Qatar Basketball Federation is organising two “bubbles” in a short amount of time and I want to take this opportunity to thank everyone at QBF for their efforts. Thank you for your presence today and we expect to welcome you here on Friday”.
Ignacio Soriano, said, “The FIBA 3x3 World Tour Masters series was going to start on April here from Doha but we are now finally here in November in the middle of the coronavirus crisis. The upcoming tournament will be the 4th World Masters following those in Hungary. We are happy to be here. We complied and we follow all the protocols and measures under the instructions of the Ministry of Health.
“We would like to thank the Secretary General Mr. Ali Al Malki, Qatar Basketball Federation, the Qatar Olympic Committee, and all the authorities for their contribution in hosting this event again.
“Fourteen teams from all over the world, including two from the United States (New York and Princeton) have travelled to compete here. We expect a great tournament with 105.000 US dollars in prize money divided across the top five teams. The tournament will be streamed live in 100 countries.
“We see Qatar as a solid partner for 3x3, dates back to 2013. We have contract for one more year with another tournament in 2021. We know that Qatar Basketball Federation and Qatar Olympic Committee have great plans for 3x3 in the country. Let’s not forget that Qatar will participate in the Olympic Qualification tournament in Austria next year. Qatar has Olympic aspirations for 3x3.”
Ali Chakaron (General Manager of Ultra Sports), said, “We are the official partners of Qatar Basketball Federation for the last 5 years. It is not our first time we organise the 3x3 tournament with QBF. We usually support providing every equipment. We are so delighted that Qatar is doing this 3x3 tournament. We wish the organisers best of luck”.
Mithqual Abunasser (General Manager McDonald’s Qatar): “It is our great pleasure to be part of this event, another step in our partnership with Qatar Basketball Federation which we want to improve even more. We wish everybody all the success. Qatar’s actions to maintain the control of this unprecedent situation have been truly phenomenal. We are sure that we will have a good tournament.
Lenelio Morga (Managing Director Qabayan Radio 94.3): “On behalf of the only Philippines Radio Station in Doha we would like to thank Qatar Basketball Federation (QBF) for choosing us to work with them on this international event. We hope for more collaborations between the two sides in the future”.
The tournament will tip off on Friday November 20 at 3:10pm. The thrilling dunk contest will start on Saturday November 21 at 7.50pm. For the first time ever the spectators will have an opportunity to be the fourth judge in the slam dunk competition.