SUNDAY, JUNE 11, 2017 SPORTS US hoops leaders thrilled for Olympic 3-on-3 hoops CLEVELAND: Excitement abounds in sport and expand it to parts of the world France. “Today’s announcement by the vide these elite athletes with the oppor- firms our gut instinct that 3-on-3 basket- basketball’s birthplace about the fast- that might not otherwise be active in IOC to include 3-on-3 basketball in the tunity to further demonstrate their tal- ball is what sports and entertainment paced 3-on-3 version of the game being basketball.” 2020 Olympics is great news and contin- ents,” Tatum said. fans want to see.” The Big3 tips off on added to the Olympic lineup Friday by While American teams of NBA and ues to signify the growing popularity of June 25 at New York’s Barclays Center. the International Olympic Committee. Women’s NBA stars have dominated the basketball around the world,” said NBA ‘WHAT FANS WANT’ World governing body FIBA had 3- With roots in Harlem’s legendary familiar 5-on-5 version of the game on deputy commissioner and chief operat- Former NBA standouts Allen Iverson on-3 in the 2010 Singapore Youth Rucker Park playground games and the the Olympic stage, 3-on-3 offers nations ing officer Mark Tatum. and Chauncey Billups are among players Olympic Games and in the 2014 edition Gus Macker series that has toured US with less depth the chance to compete The Dew NBA 3X Tour, the first in the new Big3 league, where eight of the event in Nanjing, China, the sport cities for 30 years, 3-on-3 has reached a at a global level much as Rugby Sevens nationwide US elite 3-on-3 competition, teams play a round-robin schedule of now becoming the first Youth Olympic renaissance that includes an eight-team does in its realm. “It is a popular and is in its second year with events from tournaments, four games each night in discipline to be included in the Olympic US pro league tipping off in two weeks growing sport,” Tooley said. It’s non-stop, May to October in New York, Chicago, various cities with playoffs and a cham- program. and Olympic status starting at Tokyo in fast-paced, high energy and an exciting Los Angeles, Miami, Washington and San pionship. “We would like to commend “Three-on-3 has proven to be a glob- 2020. “USA Basketball is excited that 3- version of the game.” Francisco. “The last few years, we have the Olympics for making 3-on-3 basket- al sport and one of the most popular on-3 basketball has been added to the The NBA has conducted 3-on-3 made a major push in 3-on-3 basketball ball, the most played sport in the world, spectator sports,” Tooley said. “USA 2020 Olympic Games,” USA Basketball events around the world, including with our nationwide Dew NBA 3X tour an official Olympic sport,” Big3 co- Basketball hopes the addition of 3-on-3 chief executive Jim Tooley said, adding: stops in Brazil, China, Philippines, Japan, and several international 3-on-3 compe- founders Ice Cube and Jeff Kwatinetz to the Olympics will help grow participa- “3-on-3 is a great way to develop the Mexico, Spain, Italy, Germany and titions and the Olympic stage will pro- said in a statement. “This decision recon- tion in the sport worldwide.” — AFP Reavie, Schwartzel, Munoz share PGA St Jude lead LOS ANGELES: Chez Reavie fired three Schwartzel, the 2011 Masters champion, birdies and an eagle in a five-under par 65 teed off on 10 and birdied four of his first that boosted him into a three-way tie for eight holes. He was alone atop the leader- the lead with Charl Schwartzel and Carlos board after a birdie on the par-four second Munoz Friday in the PGA St. Jude Classic. but bogeyed the eighth. South Africa’s Schwartzel had five birdies He was expecting a demanding week- and a bogey in his four-under par 66 while end in the final tuneup before next week’s Colombia’s Munoz carded a 67 that fea- US Open at Erin Hills in Wisconsin. tured four birdies and a bogey. “If you’re missing fairways, with the They were one stroke in front of greens, you’re going to miss a lot of greens, overnight co-leader Stewart Cink, who you’re going to struggle,” he said. carded a 68 for 132, with Ben Crane, winner “So if you want to move forward and of this tournament in Memphis, Tennessee, win this golf tournament, I think all parts of on 133 after a 65. your game are going to have to be in top Reavie started the day two shots off the form.” Munoz, whose late charge on lead. He picked up three birdies on the Thursday gave him a share of the first- front nine and eagled the par-five 16th to round lead with Cink, Scott Brown and go into the weekend poised to strike for a Matt Every, teed off on 10 and was even second career win to go with his 2008 through nine after a birdie and a bogey. He Canadian Open title. Reavie said he’d stay picked up three birdies coming in to main- aggressive over the weekend. “There’s no tain a share of the lead. way that I can change my mindset and go “I’m super happy,” the 24-year-old out there and try and make pars. I won’t Munoz said. “I’m really proud of the way I win the golf tournament if I do that,” he played today. I had one mistake, but I think said. “I need to just keep doing the same a pretty good bogey on 18, so I was just thing I’m doing, attack the holes that suit happy to be able to step it up.” —AFP my eye and make as many birdies as I can.” RUGBY Folau, Speight try doubles CLEVELAND: LeBron James #23 of the Cleveland Cavaliers drives to the basket against the Golden State Warriors in Game 4 of the 2017 NBA as Australia beat Fiji Finals at Quicken Loans Arena on Friday in Cleveland, Ohio. — AFP MELBOURNE: Israel Folau and Henry rate was there,” Hooper said. BASKETBALL Speight scored try doubles as Australia “We probably left two or three tries out launched their international season with a there, but the Fijians are pretty hard to deal 37-14 win over Fiji in Melbourne yesterday. with at times.” Fullback Folau was outstanding in LeBron, Cavaliers thump attack, running over 150 metres for the FAST START FROM WALLABIES match, and Fijian-born winger Speight fin- It was Australia’s 14th straight win over ished well as the Wallabies outscored Fiji Fiji since a 3-3 draw in Melbourne in 1961. five tries to two after leading 18-0 at half- Their last defeat to the Pacific Islanders was Warriors to avoid sweep time. Fly-half Bernard Foley kicked three way back in 1954. The Wallabies hit the conversions and two penalty goals to finish ground running and were 15-0 up in the with 12 points. first 11 minutes. CLEVELAND: Kyrie Irving and LeBron James of-22 3-pointers in a half, eclipsing Golden State’s opened with the highest-scoring quarter in NBA his- The Wallabies began well and dominat- Foley aimed a high kick to the right unleashed one of the NBA’s greatest scoring two-day old mark of 12. tory, seizing a 49-33 lead after the first quarter, doing ed the first half, but the Fijians had more wing for Folau, who out-jumped fullback onslaughts Friday, powering Cleveland over Golden Irving, who shot 11-of-14 in the first half and 4-of- it despite missing eight free throws. success in the second half with tries to Kini Murimurivalu to score the opening try State 137-116 to doom the Warriors’ bid for a perfect 6 from 3-point range, scored a 3-point play with 1:07 “They brought a lot of force and we weren’t ready Vereniki Goneva and Timoci Nagusa. in the fourth minute. playoff run. Irving scored 40 points while James to play in the second quarter to give the Cavs their for it,” Kerr said. In the historic opening period, Love It was a tonic for the Wallabies to win The Wallabies were in again when for- added 31 points, 10 rebounds and 11 assists and largest lead of the finals at 83-61. scored 14 points, Irving added 11 and James con- their season opener by 23 points, with Test wards Coleman and Scott Higginbotham Kevin Love contributed 23 points as the defending James, who shot 7-of-11 from the floor and 6-of- tributed eight points, six assists and four rebounds. debutant Karmichael Hunt catching the exchanged passes and gave the opening champion Cavaliers snapped Golden State’s NBA- 10 from the free throw line in the first half, added James, who passed Michael Jordan for third on the eye at inside centre along with towering for Speight to score out wide. record post-season win streak at 15 games. eight assists and six rebounds in the first half. Love, all-time NBA Finals scoring list with his first basket, lock Adam Coleman. The Wallabies went a man down when The Warriors still lead the best-of-seven series 3-1 James, Irving combined for only one less point in the sank a layup to give the Cavaliers their biggest lead of Hunt, whose introduction to rugby in Folau was yellow-carded for a high tackle and can claim the crown by winning game five at first half than the entire Warriors squad.