Serbia retains FIBA 3x3 World Cup championship, Russia rules women’s side
FOR the second straight year Serbia emerged as the best men’s 3x3 team in the world just as Russia ruled the women’s category at the conclusion of the 2017 FIBA 3x3 World Cup in Nantes, France, yesterday.
The Serbian team defeated the Netherlands, 21-18, in a highly competitive finals match en route to back-to-back titles, and third overall in the prestigious tournament that started in 2012.
Top guns Dejan “The Maestro” Majstorovic and Dusan Domovic Bulut, the number one 3x3 player in the world, led the way for Serbia in the title-clinching game.
Mr. Majstorovic scored a game- high 11 points while Mr. Bulut added eight markers as they staved off the tough challenge given by the Dutch squad, which played in its first 3x3 World Cup finals.
In the lead-up to claiming their third title, Serbia topped Pool A with a 4-0 record before defeating the United States in the quarterfinals, 17-14, and beating host France, 22-11, in the semifinals.
By helping their team post a 7-0 record throughout the tournament with their steady play, Messrs. Majstorovic and Bulut were named to the Team of the Tournament, joined by Angelo Tsagarakis of France, which edged Slovenia for the bronze medal, 18-17.
As the tournament ’ s top scorer, Mr. Majstorovic was later named most valuable player.
The Philippines, bannered by Kiefer Ravena, Jeron Teng, Kobe Paras and JR Quiñahan and backed by Chooks-to- Go, wound up in 11th place in the 20- team field after posting a 2-2 record in Pool B and failing to advance to the knockout rounds.
On the women’s side, Russia claimed its first 3x3 World Cup title by defeating Hungary, 19-12, in the championship game.
Anna Leshkovtseva and Anastasia Logunova had a team-high six points each in the finals that saw the Russians dominate right from the start.
Ukraine finished third in the category.
Ms. Leshkovtseva was named MVP and was joined in the Team of the Tournament by Bettina Bozoki (Hungary) and Karin Kuijt (the Netherlands).
Meanwhile, the 3x3 basketball discipline further enhanced its standing as a fan- friendly and spectator sport during the 2017 FIBA 3x3 World Cup with the governing body’s social media channels setting new milestones.
In numbers released by FIBA and shared to local media, FIBA’s 3x3 Facebook page topped one million views during the knockout stages late Wednesday and early Thursday morning (Manila time).
Its YouTube channel, meanwhile, reached 40 million views for the duration of the tournament.
The basketball discipline of 3x3 will make its Olympic debut in 2020 in Tokyo, Japan, while the 2018 FIBA 3x3 World Cup will be held in Manila, Philippines. —