FIBA hopes to see 3-on-3 basketball in Olympics

ISTANBUL — Basketball's world governing body says 3-on-3 basketball could become an Olympic sport by 2016. The 3-on-3 event debuted on a trial basis at the recent Youth Olympics, and FIBA secretary general Patrick Baumann praised it as a way to grow basketball in poorer countries because it is so cheap. After watching the competition in Singapore, Baumann says that "there is no reason why 3-on-3 shouldn't become an Olympic event in the next few years." The format calls for teams to play two 5-minute halves on a standard half court. The first team to 33 wins, and if neither reaches that total, the one with the highest score after the second period gets the victory. FIBA says it envisions a 3-on-3 world tour and a global ranking system for individual players. – AP