NBA 3X to return next month

SINGAPORE — No thanks to the haze that enveloped the nation last month, the NBA 3X Singapore event which was initially scheduled to be held at the outdoor venue at Ngee Ann City Civic Plaza from June 21 to 23 was replaced instead by an Interactive Fan Session at Orchard hotel.

However, its organisers promised that they would hold the event when the haze situation improves. And they have since kept their word.

According to an announcement on the NBA 3X Asia’s Facebook page yesterday, the event will return next month and will be held at the same venue from Aug 31 to Sept 1. It means that the 100 teams that signed up for the 3-on-3 tournament will finally get to compete in it.

The NBA 3X is a global fan development event of the National Basketball Association (NBA). It hosts events that combine a free NBA fan festival with a 3-on-3 tournament.

“Since the unprecedented haze situation, we’ve been working tirelessly to secure an NBA player, dance team, mascot, venue and coordinate with event partners so that we could run the event at an appropriate time when the possibility of haze would be minimal,” said the announcement.

“So we are thrilled to finally be able to confirm that we will be returning to Ngee Ann City next month. And we will not only be bringing back the tournament games, but the full NBA experience, including another NBA player, NBA dance team and NBA mascot to NBA 3X Singapore presented by Standard Chartered.”

The post did not reveal details of the new guests.

Last month’s event had featured NBA stars like Memphis Grizzlies’ Quincy Pondexter and New Orleans Pelican’s Robin Lopez, as well as the Laker Girls’ Dance Team and Denver Nuggets’ mascot, Rocky the Mountain Lion.

However, with the Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) hovering between the unhealthy and hazardous levels (100 to above 300), event promoters Black Dot decided it was a risk to the 100 local teams that were expected to take part in the United States’ franchise inaugural event here.

According to its Executive Director, Nicholas Fang, the decision to reschedule the event was a costly but necessary one.

“It was a shame that we had to cancel the tournament, but it was for the safety of all participants,” said Fang, who declined to say how much it cost to cancel the three-day affair.

As for next month’s event, he said: “Nothing can be announced as of yet, but the entourage that will be gracing our event this time round will certainly excite local NBA fans. We want to do better than just a meet-and-greet with the NBA stars. We owe the fans that signed up with us and we are confident of delivering exactly that.”