Rawle Toney 3×3 Classic: Toney ecstatic at tremendous growth of tournament

…grateful to current sponsors, urges corporate Guyana to become involved

Guyana’s most anticipated 3×3 basketball tournament, the “Rawle Toney 3X3 Classic”, will make a return at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall during the period February 19–20, 2022. Founder of the tournament, Rawle Toney, is ecstatic at the tremendous growth of the tournament since its launch in 2019.
In an interview with this publication, he was asked what he thinks of the tournament being given permission by the COVID-19 taskforce, and Toney said, “Excited! Overwhelmed! Happy! I’m more overjoyed because of the growth of the game since I hosted the inaugural tournament in 2019. The significance of the tournament in February, and what it actually means for 3X3 basketball, not just in Guyana, but the Caribbean, is what will make this tournament’s return special.
“They should look forward to the party and basketball. Much like what the Caribbean Premier League brought to Guyana with T20 Cricket.
“I’m not saying my event is (going) to rival the CPL in any way, because that would be impossible; but it will provide a very similar atmosphere, and one where sports will meet entertainment,” Tony has said.
Asked about the committee’s plan to embrace the COVID protocols and maintain them, Toney said that with the tournament being endorsed by FIBA (basketball’s global-governing body) and hosted under guidance of the Guyana Amateur Basketball Federation (GABF), FIBA’s return-to-play protocol and the requirements given by the National COVID-19 Task Force would be the guide on how the event is held over the two days.
He relayed that as much as the tournament is intended to be of a certain way, it should be noted that the safety of the players and officials is priority. Toney insisted that the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall would be sanitised, as there is enough space to allow for social distancing. As such, he explained that mask-wearing would be mandatory throughout the tournament.
In a message to the current sponsors, Toney said, “Guyana Breweries Inc, Ansa McAl, FireSide Grill, Bush Cook, National Sports Commission (just to name a few) – I would like to say, ‘Thank you for being on board from the jump’; and without their support, this wouldn’t have been possible. There are a number of others who would’ve made certain commitments since I announced the tournament’s return, but I’ll give more details on December 10 at the launch”.
He reiterated that, to corporate Guyana, this tournament represents an opportunity to be part of the fastest-growing urban sport in the world, which is now an Olympic sport, having been played at the Tokyo Games. He was also positive that it is an opportunity to help in the development of basketball, particularly the 3×3 format.
The founder of the 3×3 Classic related to this publication that talks are currently ongoing to not only livestream the event, but also have it broadcasted on television. While being held at the Sports Hall instead of the Burnham Hardcourt as had obtained in previous years, this is all part of the plan to protect the players, officials and patrons.
“The event next year can only be accommodated at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall. The setup and how we will be hosting the tournament cannot be done at the Burnham Court. You’ll see a concert-like setup along with basketball in the venue, something that will be a first in Guyana for basketball” Toney posited.
This year, a total of 16 teams will be vying for a winner’s purse of $600,000, which has completely been doubled, since Pitbulls 3.0, behind Ryan Stephney, Jermaine Slatter, Ryan Gullen and Travis Belgrave, edged Team Smooth 22-12 in the 2019 finals to walk away with Gy$300,000 and the Rawle Toney 3X3 Basketball Classic Trophy.