3x3 Basketball Plays to Crowds at Pan Ams

(ATR) A crowded house of fans enjoyed a day of basketball for the preliminaries at the Pan American Games.

Fans filled the Coliseo Eduardo Dibos venue to watch their favorite teams play, excitedly holding their home team flags in the stands as they watched in delight.

In the men’s competition on Saturday, the United States defeated Venezuela in its first match of the day by 21-14.

Speaking on the pros and cons of 3x3 basketball, Kareem Maddox of the United States told Around the Rings"3x3 is all pros, it's 10 minute games, you don't have a lot of time to overthink things. You have the chance to try new things and develop different aspects of your game. The only con for us is being from the States we have to travel a long way to get to these Games."

Maddox added that 3x3 basketball can make its way to the United States circuit. Maddox says the more awareness of the sport will make the future bright for 3x3 basketball.

Later on in the preliminaries, the USA played Brazil. The game was close but Brazil claimed the win in the end by 20-19.

Although South American teams may have the home court advantage, the USA players say they expect a tough challenge in any match and are not overlooking anyone.

They say it is a more physical style of basketball, the court is different and the speed of the game is also different.

USA player Jonathan Octeus applauded the Lima 2019 organizers. He said that having played in different tournaments overseas, he thought the Pan Am games ran well and noted how the refs did a great job calling fouls.

Octeus also added he thinks basketball may have a future in the Olympics.

Written and reported by Greer Wilson in Lima

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