Flight Nation made history by becoming the first team to win the maiden edition of the 3×3 Monrovia Open Challenge. The competition was organized by 3X3 Liberia, a newly formed organization with the aim of taking 3on3 basketball to every corner in Liberia.
The tournament consisted of two categories of male and female. In total 14 teams took part in the tournament, 11 male and 3 female teams.
Flight Nation consisting of the following players, George Stevens, Justin Matthews, Allen Russ and Amos Kanneh, defeated the highly favored team Bhad Boyz. The team had basketball maestros Joel Martor and Fedolph Marshall as well as Issac Anosike and Austin Coleman.
The surprise team of the tournament was 3 Men. They defeated a star studded team, Ghost, to get to the semis.
In the female category, Lioness Ladies took home the championship defeating The Hoopers in the final. Wellay T. Baar, Rose Emmanuel, Fanta Kamara, and Mireille Mepouyi Sylla Nhe never had any match easy although it looked easier on paper.
The CEO of 3×3 Liberia, Coach Claudius Thompson stated his team is ready for the next city, Kakata. ‘We are working with basketball stakeholders in the county to bring the train to their city,’ he stated.
3×3 basketball is a variation of basketball played three-a-side, with one backboard and in a half-court setup. According to an ESSEC Business School study commissioned by the International Olympic Committee, 3×3 is the largest urban team sport in the world.
Below are the results from the tournament: