An array of ball skills is on display at the Queen Elizabeth Youth Centre today as keen basketball players play in the 3x3 National Basketball Tour.

The tournament was originally meant to be played on The Strand but rain forced organisers to find an alternative venue.

Basketball players battling it out on the court. Photos: Daniel Hines.

Devon Bannister, 13 and Kelsey Russell, 13.

This is the first time the Tauranga tournament, the fourth in a 10-stop summer tour from Auckland to Dunedin, is being played here.

3x3 National Basketball coordinator Leyton Haddleton says people have the opportunity to mix it with top professionals with experience on the international circuit.

The tournament has ranking points are up for grabs, while national Men's U18 and Open Men's selectors will be gauging the talent available ahead of the 3x3 Youth Olympics in Nanjing, China, and the 3x3 World Championships in Moscow, Russia.

Leyton says the 3x3 format is faster, shorter and more dynamic to watch with each game lasting just 10 minutes and teams restricted to 12 seconds to shot as opposed to 24 in regular 5x5.