Manila will host the 2026 Red Bull Half Court World Finals on Dec. 5, marking the first time the global 3on3 tournament brings its championship event to the Philippines.
The tournament will feature national champions from 13 countries competing in one of the world’s most basketball-centric cities. The event unfolds across two iconic Manila locations: the historic Fort Santiago in Intramuros for the group stage, and the modern district of Bonifacio Global City (BGC) for the finals.
Alongside the tournament, organizers launched the Red Bull Half Court Design My Court initiative, inviting local designers, street art enthusiasts, and fans to submit custom basketball court designs from Sept. 28 through Oct. 21. The winning design will be brought to life for the event.
“Manila is built for this format,” said Paul Gudde, Red Bull Half Court Global Sports Director. “It’s a city where basketball isn’t just watched, it’s lived. Bringing the World Finals here is about connecting the global 3on3 community with a place that truly understands what playground basketball is all about.”
Several international basketball personalities will join the event in Manila, including streetball icon Grayson “The Professor” Boucher, shooting coach Chris “Lethal Shooter” Matthews, Polish dunker Piotr “Grabo” Grabowski, and Filipino FIBA 3×3 World Tour Dunk Contest winner David “Air David” Carlos.
“The Philippines is one of my favorite countries to visit because the fans love basketball/streetball culture,” said Boucher. “I can’t wait to come over for the Red Bull Half Court World Finals to do some park takeovers and see the best 3v3 streetball teams from around the globe. I know the Manila crowd is going to be a vibe and the World Finals out there is gonna be a movie.”
Matthews, serving as global ambassador, noted the local community’s devotion to the game.
“I have been to Manila multiple times and am always impressed by the level of passion for basketball that the athletes have,” Matthews said. “In particular, there’s a huge appreciation for the art of shooting in Manila. Coming back for Red Bull Half Court is going to be special, you’ve got national champions from around the world coming to compete and represent their countries. I know we’re going to see some great athletes competing at the highest level.”
The sixth season of the tournament featured qualifiers in Egypt, India, Kenya, Lebanon, Nigeria, the Philippines, South Africa, Sweden, and Ukraine. Teams that have secured their spots in the Manila finals include:
- India: Team 911 (Men’s champions)
- North Macedonia: Team Sinatra (National title winners)
- Philippines: JSKILLS (Men’s champions) and Pilipinas Aguilas (Women’s champions)
- Egypt: Team Hustlers and Bad Luck
Red Bull Half Court features a high-speed format designed to elevate pacing:
- Time limit: Games last a maximum of 10 minutes.
- Winning threshold: First team to score 21 points wins immediately.
- Own the Court bonus: During pool play, the team with the highest total points scored earns a bonus to aid advancement.
- Special scoring: Two designated three-point circles behind the arc offer high-risk, high-reward scoring opportunities.
Previous World Finals were held in Rome, Cairo, Belgrade, New York City, and Dubai.
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