The SIT Zero Fees Southland Sharks made NBL history in Invercargill on Saturday (November 14) by becoming the inaugural victors of the Schick 3X3 Cup in the men’s grand final. 

The win over the Hawke’s Bay Hawks 21-19 was a spectacular end to the action-packed three-day competition.

3x3 basketball has been described as “fast, furious and physical” and the last three days of the competition was just that.

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With 70 games played in three days by 10 men’s teams and 10 women’s teams, there was little time for rest in a competition that kept everyone on the edge of their seats. 

In the women’s grand final, Auckland Dream triumphed over Harbour Breeze 18-16 to win the NBL Schick 3X3 Cup and secure another national title.

This level of 3X3 basketball has never been seen in New Zealand before and it all went down at the ILT Stadium Southland.

ILT Stadium Southland manager Nigel Skelt. PHOTO: Lucy Henry

Stadium manager Nigel Skelt said the last three days had been a whirlwind of excitement and fast-paced sport.

He took a significant punt to secure the contract to host the NBL’s Schick 3X3 Cup in Invercargill for the next three years and is confident the investment will pay off. 

“It’s been a huge financial investment, but we saw it as a long-term investment,” he said. 

“We’re trying to create a destination event for Invercargill, and there’s a lot of education around the event. It’s a new sport, it’s a new Olympic sport, it’s a lot of razzle dazzle and what we’re trying to do is attract a new audience with that.”

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Otherwise known as street ball or street basketball, 3x3 is different to traditional basketball as it is played three a side, on a half court and on one hoop.

Games are short and very fast-paced. The winner is the first team to score 21 or the team with the highest score at the end of the 10-minute game. 

According to Basketball New Zealand, it is the largest urban team sport in the world, with over 250 million players worldwide and ranked among the most played recreational sports on the planet.

Mr Skelt said he wanted to grow the event and see 3x3 basketball really take off in Invercargill, as it would boost Southland’s presence and economy. 

“It’s a huge opportunity for Southland to develop something new,” he said.

“We want people from up north to come down, spend some time in the 3x3 but also to explore what’s in Invercargill, Stewart Island and the surrounds,” he said.

But he said to do so, people would need to embrace change. 

“In Tokoyo [Olympics] 2021, 3x3 is sold out… so it’s an extremely popular sport [and] we’ve got to create that sport culture down here in Invercargill,” he said.

“[But] this afternoon I was outside, and we had kids down the playground and down the street, scrimmaging, playing 3x3 and that hasn’t happened before.”

Action from the Sharks vs Hawks final. PHOTO: Lucy Henry

Mr Skelt said each night the numbers of spectators doubled. On the final night there were around 700 people watching the event and the corporate tables had sold out. 

He’s now put the call out to female basketball players in the deep south to form a women’s team to compete in the women’s division next year - saying the stadium will sponsor the team next year if they do.

“I’m even more stoked that we’ve got the women’s game being played…they deserve the opportunity, so there’s the challenge let’s get a team out there of young women.” 

NBL general manager Justin Nelson said he loved having the event in Invercargill and the game had been well received.

“This was about getting [3x3] out there so people can see this fantastic fast, furious and physical game, everyone has loved it, the viewership has been really good across the county and we can’t wait to be back next August,” he said.