London, England – The young fellas set bar real high on day one..... what was in store for day two?
TEAM LABAS took an unexpected spot in the Elite Men's competition after a team missed their registration time. LABAS then qualified in the Elite Men's competition after failing to qualify in the Men's competition...wait...what?
The women’s final tournament is gonna be absolutely ridiculous. 2017 Champs Open Run VAC flew over from Holland and made light work of the competition qualifying with relative ease. Ball Out 3x3 2018 champs now named ‘Run It Back’ let everyone know they are on a mission for back to back titles. They qualified destroying ‘Bleh’ 15-2, they aren’t taking no prisoners, strictly bid’ness. ‘Switch It Up’ are a team that have been about and now with the addition of Commonwealth Silver medallist Melita Emanuel-Carr, they are definitely in the championship mix. Shout to ‘My Guys R Ballers’ they put in serious work over the weekend winning their qualification game 15-5 over ‘No Fox Given’.
The Men’s division was real tough this year with a real impressive standard of basketball being played earlier in the day. S/0 to the ‘Hackney Boys’ Aaron, Jahmar, Jaylon and Tyrel these guys are nice with it, don’t let the name boys fool ya, they gave everyone problems and buckets. For sure the hottest team in the division and before I continue, these guys have been reppin’ Ball Out 3x3 since the beginning. That’s love fellas! They managed to grind out a tough win over King Kong in the qualification match 9-8. However, King Kong have the 7th best record in the field and qualified also.
The Elite Men’s division featured all the usual faces and all the usual faces qualified except one, a big one.... our #1 ranked 3x3 team in the UK Asphalt Assassins came up short after being in a three-way tie and losing by the tie-break to the 2nd place team by one single point. They boys will be back though, focused and hungry and we can’t wait to see it.
Last year’s champions the ‘Punishers’ qualified even though they lost to ‘All Ball Network’ in the quarter-final 15-11. The 2017 champions ‘Product of My Environment’ (That name is fire!) are back this year and picked up where they left off raking up W’s at every turn.
The best and most appropriate team name ‘Team Underrated’ took the division by storm led by former London Lions and current Westminster Warrior Jonathan Lashey; these guys played with heart and passion diving for loose balls to make it all the way to the London Qualifier finals. S/O Jamal Simpson, Eli Robinson and Shaquille Lewis these 'RESPECT THE GRIND' they been putting in the work it takes to success. Matched up against a stacked POME featuring UK's former #1 ranked 3x3 player and London City Royals guard AJ Roberts, everyone counted them boys out. Maybe a touch of compliancy from POME and Team Underrated took a strangle hold of the game. POME bounced back but it was too late, them boys was in a grove and got the dub!
Don't worry POME gonna reload and re-up and come ready for the finals.
On to the next one.....
3rd August Manchester
4th August Birmingham
We out!!
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