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Marland Nattie Legends 3x3 scores high on quality
October 10, 2025
Less, at times, means more. Qualitatively, Oberon Pitterson Nattie cites higher standards exhibited by a smaller number of teams as an enormous takeaway from the just-concluded second staging of the Marland Nattie Legends 3x3 Basketball Tournament.
Pitterson Nattie, chairperson of the Marland Nattie Oberon Pitterson (MNOP) Foundation which initiated the one-day competition in 2024 following the passing of her late husband - former Jamaica Basketball Association (JBA) President and national player Marland - expressed pleasure at the outcome even though a dozen less teams took to the courts this time.
"The games were competitive and exciting, even though we never had the number of teams we had in the first year. But what I was really pleased with is that all the teams were of a high quality," she noted of the 28 four-member participatory units.
"For the females, even though there were four teams, they were four quality teams and so the competition was very tough, it was very physical; likewise the male and the under 19s," said Pitterson Nattie.
With a view for continual improvements, she expressed the hope of having this year's host venue University of Technology on its sponsors' list. That itemisation includes, among others, FIBA Americas 3x3, the JBA, KFC, General Accident Insurance Company, Utter Smart, Joy McLeod Custom Brokers, Wisynco and the BoB and Rita Marley Foundation.
The involvement of FIBA, the International Basketball Federation, ensures points for Jamaica, and the players, which aid rankings that can propel the nation beyond qualifiers and into advanced stages of competitions; and indicate an individual's ranking for teams to view on its site and recruit for pro 3x3 competitions across the globe.
Pitterson Nattie says the tournament data will be put on the market by the sports' world governing body.
"We're now waiting for FIBA to deem the event FIBA-endorsed so that Jamaica and the players can get points."
Nine teams contested the Female Open division last year, when Sim's Angels took top honours and the $40,000 prize.
This time Clique emerged champions, defeating Jus Us 7-5 in the final to claim the increased $45,000 bounty and Simone Edwards O.D./Simone Jackson Trophy. The runners-up got $25,000.
For the Men's Open, a name change did the trick for Kingston Phoenix, which competed prior as the Jamaica Constabulary Force. In the 10-team challenge, they claimed top honours with a 9-7 victory over Caribbean Basketball Association in the final, to swoop the Marland Nattie Trophy and $60,000. An offspring of Calabar High School, CBA, got $45,000 for placing second.
One more team participated in the Men's Under-19 this outing, 14, and American Basketball Federation (ABF), sponsored by United States-based Anthony Toney, wrestled the title from last year's winners, Manchester's Rebels, with a 14-11 win in the final. The U19 champions earned The Mr Riley trophy, plus $30,000. Rebels pocketed $12,000.
The respective Most Valuable Players - ABF's Nathan Ricketts, Clique's Carissa Robinson and Phoenix's Lushane Wilson - led the championship charge and were rewarded with cash prizes of $5,000 for the Open Females and U19s, and $20,000 for Open Male. The men's figure, put up by General Accident Insurance, was doubled this outing.
"The new team, American Basketball Federation ... when you look at how they played, they really play together, they did fundamental things, they did really great stuff on court," observed Pitterson Nattie, a former Sunshine Girls player and head coach, and former national basketball representative.
"That's what I was proud of, I liked the level of competition and, hopefully, we can raise the bar for the next staging."
