MARSEILLE (France) – Raudondvaris Hoptrans (LTU) defeated Paris (FRA) 19-14 to claim victory at the FIBA 3×3 World Tour Marseille 2024 on June 1.
The Lithuanians had a rocky start during the Pool phase but managed to secure a Quarter-final spot with a savvy win over St. Pauli. In the knockout stage, they made a statement by narrowly defeating Ub and then grinding out a victory against a red-hot Vienna team in the semi-final, setting the stage for a final showdown against the home side, Paris.
Raudondvaris came out firing, with Evaldas Džiaugys and Šarūnas Vingelis making timely buckets to set the pace. Despite Paris’s collective efforts to stay in the game, the Lithuanians continued to apply early pressure, taking an 8-4 lead. Vingelis was instrumental on both ends of the court, helping Raudondvaris maintain a comfortable lead.
Paris fought back with Franck Seguela anchoring the defense and Jules Rambaut hitting crucial twos. However, Raudondvaris’s dominance in the paint through Modestas Kumpys and Aurelijus Pukelis proved too much to overcome.
Kumpys showcased immense versatility, playing a pivotal defensive role and causing constant problems for the opposition with his incisive drives. He finished the tournament with 20 points and a player value of 28.6, earning MVP honors.
“Winning here in France is incredible. The team showed great resilience and I’m proud of our performance,” said Kumpys. “We knew Paris would be tough, but we stuck to our game plan and it paid off.”
In the individual contests, Canyon Barry from Miami won the shoot-out contest, while Yohan Lemay clinched the Maurice Lacroix dunk contest.
“Competing against such high-caliber players and coming out on top is a dream,” said Barry. “It’s an amazing feeling.”
Lemay, thrilled with his victory in the dunk contest, added, “The energy here in Marseille was electric. I’m happy to put on a show for the fans.”
Raudondvaris Hoptrans’s triumph in Marseille not only spoiled the party for the home crowd but also highlighted their prowess and determination on the international 3×3 stage.
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