Olympic qualifiers for 3x3 basketball postponed due to coronavirus outbreak

The Olympic Qualification Tournament for 3x3 basketball has been postponed due to the novel coronavirus outbreak, FIBA announced on Wednesday.

The OQT was originally scheduled on March 18 to 22 in Bengaluru, India. A new schedule is yet to be released, but FIBA said the tournament must take place before the 3x3 Universality OQT on April 24 to 26.

3x3 basketball is set to be staged at the Olympics for the first time this year as Tokyo hosts the Games in July.

READ: SBP names Munzon, Pasaol, Perez, Tautuaa to 3x3 Olympic qualifiers squad

"FIBA is now working in close collaboration with the International Olympic Committee, on the best solution possible in the circumstances," the federation said in a press release.

The FIBA 3x3 Olympic Qualification Tournament, which was scheduled to be held in Bengaluru, India, from March 18 to 22, 2020, has been postponed due to COVID-19https://t.co/Vj5gVbM50O

— FIBA3x3 (@FIBA3x3) March 4, 2020

The FIBA 3x3 Asia Cup and the FIBA 3x3 U17 Asia Cup have been also rescheduled to September and October.

Meanwhile, the FIBA U16 Asian Championships for men and women have been cancelled.

The Olympics itself may face cancellation if the coronavirus is not contained by May, said an IOC member.

As of March 3, over 90,000 cases were confirmed in 73 countries world wide, according to the World Health Organization. More than 3,000 people have died due to the disease. —MGP, GMA News