With tournaments previously held in Perth and Sydney, the finals of the 2015 Red Bull Reign 3×3 competition was conducted in Melbourne over the weekend, with a mixture of the best up-and-coming basketballers combining with past legends of the game in a thrilling contest.
NBL legends Lanard Copleland and Darryl McDonald suited up while Corey ‘Homicide’ Williams was also in attendance but it was a team of four Melbourne University and Big V teammates in Nicholas Masunda, Stefan Pomasan, Smoke and Jack Railton-Woodcock, named the Wolves, that took out the $6000 first prize.
Following 13 heated games of basketball and a close final round against Perth champions, the Salads, the Wolves prevailed 14-9 and showcased an impressive combination of team work, endurance and ball-skills.
“It’s pretty unexpected, I didn’t think we were going to get up – there are lot of big names around here today – but we did it and I’m stoked,” said Railton-Woodcock.
Jack’s teammate Stefan Pomasan knew it was important to strategise their approach, given that the winning team would play a total of 13 rounds instead of four to five, which is typical of most 3-on-3 competitions.
“We really had to grind it out the whole day; it was a long day of basketball,” he said. “I think we’re all looking forward to a shower after an exhausting but great day at Red Bull Reign.”
Throughout its very first Australian competition, Red Bull Reign has uncovered some of the country’s best up-and-coming basketball talent, giving players a platform to showcase and enhance their skills.
Check out a highlights package of the tournament below, courtesy of ThePickandRoll.
For more information on Red Bull Reign, visit www.redbull.com.au/reign.
In the spirit of reconciliation Basketball Australia acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.