XYZ have emerged winners of the first ever OG 3-on-3 basketball tournament played at the University of Ghana’s basketball courts. XYZ, hastily formed by a quadruple of members of the University of Ghana basketball team came tops after beating the Legon Angels 21-13 in a hotly competed final. In fact, the eventual result flatters to deceive because the first half ended 9-9.

It is the competitive nature of the 22 games exhibited by eight teams in all that most excites Oasis Generation CEO Faisal Shaibu. “It was a good tournament and one that we can’t wait to see another of. All the teams gave everything and wanted to win which made the tournament really exciting. I must say we want to make it a quarterly so the next one will be in December/January thereabouts,” Faisal said at the end of the two day competition.

For their prize, XYZ took home a cool GH¢150, something that is still a surprise to the victorious team even after pocketing the cash. “I have to tell you that the money is very good and I still can’t believe it because many others have organised these competitions with many promises which are never delivered. This tournament is also a great idea and also helpful to us because inter-halls basketball starts just next week, so this was a very useful preparation too,” Jake Morrison of the XYZ said on his apparent double victory.

But for a certain Mc Mantey, also of the XYZ, it was a triple victory as he won the Slum Dunk competition to also carry home a brand new ball donated by US sportswear manufacturing giants NIKE. Mantey could not hide his joy promising to even churn out a career in the sport eventually. “Yeah this is an unbelievable night for me and all I have to say is that expect a lot more from because I want to play in the NBA” a very happy Mantey said. Legon Angels also received a GH¢100 prize for placing second with 3rd Black Chips pocketing GH¢50 for their feat. Legon Nets, F.U., Vikings, C.Y.O. and Swag Connections were the other teams which also partook in the first ever Oasis Generation 3-on-3 Basketball tournament.

3-on-3 basketball, better known as street basketball, is not a new game. What’s new is that FIBA (International Basketball Federation) plans to make it worldwide with unified rules to be played by national teams of players less than 18 years of age. Designed to unearth future stars at an early age and also promote the development of the sport globally, the rules of FIBA 33 are quite simple. A team consists of four players (three players are on the court and one is a substitute) and one coach. The game is played on a half court, on one basket, in three periods of five minutes each. ‘FIBA33’, the name of this new game, will be launched at the first Summer Youth Olympic Games in 2010 in Singapore. Ghana could be one of 20 teams expected to compete if the nation can build a good team early.

Hence the initiative by Oasis Generation to stage the 2-day tournament to sensitise Ghanaians on the game even without much of government or corporate support. “Financially, it was very tough to organize the tournament not to count many other problems, but we are happy we have been able to do it. That’s what matters most, and despite the many hustles, we can declare FIBA 33 duly launched in Ghana. We believe when we do things right, the big companies and the Ministry of Sports will see and lend a helping hand. We just have an agenda to develop basketball in Ghana and we will continue to work even harder towards that goal,” OG boss Faisal added.