Better promotion urged as fans take in FIBA 3×3 action in Victoria Park

Fiba’s 3×3 Hong Kong Masters basketball event returned to Hong Kong on Saturday, with around 60 per cent of the seats filled at Victoria Park on Saturday.

Fans arrived in greater numbers late in the afternoon, with attendance up on last year’s Masters, but some spectators admitted they had “no idea” the event was taking place.

“It seems to me not many people in the city know about this event,” Maurice Li – a visitor from Vancouver – said. “I’ve watched other 3×3 tournaments online and it’s different to watch from the stands.

“I am enjoying it with the live music and the games are exciting so far.”

Watching with Li was his friend, Stephanie Kong, who lives across the street and only learned about the event after seeing the gigantic tent housing the court from her window.

“It seems there was not enough promotion,” she said. “My friends have kids and they would have come. Except they didn’t really know about it and they now have other plans already.

“I believe a lot of people would like this but they didn’t see this event promoted in the normal places. It’s really fun though and I would come again.”

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Hong Kong’s hardcore basketball fans, however, suggested otherwise and decided to show support for the event after learning about it from Facebook.

“It’s a good family event,” Daniel Wong – who plays basketball regularly – said. “I’d say it’s rare for Hong Kong to have an event of such scale and the atmosphere is good.”

The 36-year-old father of two admitted he was “clueless”, though, about ticketing arrangements.

Wong said he bought tickets online a week ago, only to find out no counters from official partner HK Ticketing were open on Hong Kong Island during the weekend.

“I live nearby but had to go to Tsim Sha Tsui to get those tickets before coming back at 11.30am but the morning games were almost finished then,” Wong added.

“I also found out tickets are available on-site, and they were even giving away free tickets in the morning to fill up the seats, but I spent HK$420 [for the family] and bought them online.

“A QR code could have spared all these troubles.”

On the court, Paris and Princeton kept their dreams alive to snatch the last Jeddah Finals spots after scrapping through the pool stage as group runners-up.

Princeton – in 17th place – must triumph on Sunday to steal the last place in Jeddah from under the other teams’ noses. The US outfit will test themselves against group C winners Amsterdam, formed by four Netherlands national team members.

Elsewhere, Serbian side Ub Huishan NE – the No 1 team on the tour – reached the quarterfinals with two convincing wins over Princeton and Hangzhou in group A, while Ulaanbaatar MMC Energy – the best Asian team on the tour – also reached the knockout stage.

Host team Wu Kai Sha were eliminated in the qualifying draw despite securing a win over Podgorica Kodio. The local side ranked last in the three-team group because of lowest total points scored.