Manila will become the global stage for streetball this December as Red Bull Half Court brings its 2026 World Finals to the Philippines for the first time.
National champions from 13 countries are set to compete on December 5, with the tournament combining 3-on-3 basketball with elements of street culture and art.
The event will take place across two distinctly different Manila settings: the historic Fort Santiago in Intramuros and the modern urban district of Bonifacio Global City (BGC).
World Finals to feature historic and modern Manila
The group phase will be held at Fort Santiago, placing the international streetball competition within one of Manila's best-known historic landmarks.
The remaining teams will then move to BGC for Finals day, where the 2026 Red Bull Half Court champions will be crowned.
Paul Gudde, Red Bull Half Court Global Sports Director, said Manila was a natural setting for the tournament because of the city's strong basketball culture.
“Manila is built for this format. It’s a city where basketball isn’t just watched, it’s lived,” Gudde said.
The Philippines has long been one of the world's most basketball-focused markets, with the sport deeply embedded in communities and local courts. Bringing the global 3-on-3 competition to Manila gives the country's streetball scene a chance to share the spotlight with players from other countries.
Global basketball personalities coming to Manila
The World Finals will also feature several recognizable names from the international streetball and basketball community.
Streetball performer Grayson “The Professor” Boucher and shooting coach Chris “Lethal Shooter” Matthews are among the personalities scheduled to participate.
They will be joined by Polish dunker and Red Bull athlete Piotr “Grabo” Grabowski and Filipino dunking star David “Air David” Carlos.
Carlos is a FIBA 3x3 World Tour Dunk Contest winner and is among the Philippines' notable dunkers.
Boucher, who has previously visited the Philippines, said he was looking forward to returning for the event and experiencing Manila's streetball culture.
Matthews, meanwhile, pointed to the city's appreciation for basketball shooting and said he was looking forward to seeing national champions compete on the global stage.
Philippine champions head to the World Finals
The sixth season of Red Bull Half Court has featured competitions across several countries, including Egypt, India, Kenya, Lebanon, Nigeria, the Philippines, South Africa, Sweden and Ukraine.
Among the teams that have already secured places in Manila are the Philippine men's champions JSKILLS and women's champions Pilipinas Aguilas.
India's men's champions, Team 911, earned their place after winning in Chandigarh, while Team Sinatra will represent North Macedonia after taking the national title in Skopje.
Egypt will send Team Hustlers and Bad Luck, with additional national champions expected to join the World Finals as qualifying events continue.
What makes Red Bull Half Court different?
Red Bull Half Court is built around a faster format of 3-on-3 basketball.
Games are limited to 10 minutes, with the first team to reach 21 points taking the win. During pool play, teams can also earn an “own the court bonus” based on their scoring performance, which can help them advance to the next stage.
The competition adds another scoring element through two special three-point circles positioned behind the regular arc, creating a risk-and-reward component to the game.
Since its launch in 2021, Red Bull Half Court has staged World Finals in cities including Rome, Cairo, Belgrade, New York City and Dubai.
This year, Manila joins that list as the tournament's latest host city.
Design the basketball court of your dreams
Beyond the competition itself, Red Bull Half Court is also inviting Filipino designers, street art enthusiasts and basketball fans to participate in Design My Court.
The initiative gives participants an opportunity to create their vision for a basketball court, with selected designs brought to life as part of the event.
Design My Court submissions will be accepted from September 28 to October 21, 2026.
With the World Finals arriving in December, Manila will host not only international 3-on-3 competition but also a showcase of the city's connection to basketball, street art and urban culture.
