VICTORIA – Four University of Victoria men's basketball players have been selected to represent Canada at the 2025 FISU AMERICA 3x3 Basketball Championship in Brasília, Brazil, from May 29 to June 1. Renoldo Robinson, Shadynn Smid, Ethan Boag and Griffin Arnatt will make up the four-player roster, with Vikes lead assistant coach Josh Reddy set to make his international head coaching debut.

The Canadian contingent comprises a talented group of returning athletes from the 2025 U SPORTS national championship team, with three of the four athletes originally from Vancouver Island (Boag, Smid and Arnatt). The tournament is a chance for over 100 university athletes from 12 countries to connect and exchange experiences and also serves as a qualifier for the 2025 FISU 3x3 University Basketball World Cup.

While the Vikes are more familiar with the traditional 5x5 format, 3x3 basketball, which made its Olympic debut in 2024, offers a faster, more intense version of the game. Played with three players per team on a half-court with one basket, 3x3 games end after 10 minutes or when a team reaches 21 points. Unlike 5x5, there are no breaks after made baskets, which keeps the pace fast and continuous. It's also a more physical, streetball-style of basketball that emphasizes quick decision-making and stamina.

According to Reddy, the key will be capitalizing on their size when possible and coming in with a game plan since there isn't much time for coaching once the game begins.  

"I've talked to colleagues who've coached 3x3, and the main thing is to be prepared with a couple of dead ball plays, a couple of set plays, some end-of-game situations, and to always have subs ready because the game moves so fast," he said. 

For Reddy, who has spent the last few summers working as an assistant coach in the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL), he says that staying in Victoria to coach at the club level and now getting the opportunity to coach internationally are as good reasons as any to miss the CEBL season.  

"I'm looking forward to gaining reps at the international level and to being in situations where I have to think on the fly, adapt to situations quickly and learn how to communicate with the players. I'm excited to be in Brazil of course, but it's all about the chance to continue my craft and get opportunities at the highest level," he continued.

For the athletes, most of whom aspire to play professionally after university, the tournament provides an opportunity to experience the physicality of the international game, against professional and semi-professional players, in a format where fewer fouls are called, hand checks are part of the game, and the pace moves quickly.

One of those players is Robinson, a U SPORTS First Team All-Canadian who grew up playing 3x3 back home in Montreal. He says that having fewer players on the court plays to his strengths, giving him more room to dribble and make plays--not to mention his explosive speed.

"I never thought I would be going to Brazil, so this is an exciting opportunity for me. I hope to take from this the experience of playing against the universal hoopers and to see their styles, because it's a world event with so many teams from other countries. I'm also looking forward to the food and people, as well as the beauty of Brazil; and I also want to go hiking there because we have a couple of days off," said Robinson.

Since it's inception in 2015 U SPORTS has selected national champion teams to represent Canada at the FISU America 3x3 tournament. The opening ceremonies take place on May 28, with the tournament kicking off in the Brazilian capital on May 29.

FISU America 3x3 Championship history
 

Year	School	Gender	Result
2024	Carleton	Women FISU University World Cup	Silver
		Women FISU America Championship	Gold
2018	McGill	Men	Silver
2017	Regina	Women	Silver
	McGill	Men	Bronze
2016	McGill	Men	Gold
	Regina	Women	Silver
2015	UQAM	Men	Gold
	UQAM	Women	6th