All set for 1-on-1 tourney

MANILA, Philippines — The innovative National Basketball League and Women’s NBL 1v1 tournament comes off the wraps on Saturday at the Bren Z. Guiao Convention Center in San Fernando, Pampanga.

The NBL said everything is set for the 1-on-1 tournament that will have participants being classified according to weight rather than height.

With the more complex 3x3 and 5-on-5 basketball still up in the air amid the pandemic, the novelty event is much easier to organize considering the smaller delegation, manpower and venue needed to pull it off.

“We always find opportunity in every adversity. It’s an opportunity during this time of pandemic,” NBL/WNBL executive vice president Rhose Montreal told yesterday’s online PSA Forum.

NBL commissioner Jerry Codinera said the weight classes on tap are featherweight, lightweight, welterweight, light heavyweight and heavyweight.

Three rounds consisting of five minutes each will cover each game, according to WNBL commissioner Haydee Ong, with the first player to reach 30 points being declared winner.

A win by “technical knockout” happens when a player leads by as many as 10 points, regardless of the round or if he/she has yet to reach the goal of 30 points.

“It’s like having a boxing match pero basketball yung laro natin. It’s going to be entertaining for Filipino fans and audience,” said Montreal.

The winner gets a championship belt.