CHENGDU (China) – Ub Huishan NE (SRB) rediscovered their top form to outlast a gritty Lausanne (SUI) 20-19 in an epic final and win the FIBA 3×3 World Tour Chengdu 2024 on June 23.
After falling short at the first three World Tours this season, No.1 seed Ub were extra motivated but they had to do it the hard way after a Day One loss to Beijing (CHN).
As they’ve done countless times before, Ub found their best form when it mattered most to prove why they are the top ranked team in the world.
Ub had dominated Lausanne on the pro circuit over the past couple of years, but the Serbs were given a fierce examination in a tense final.
After a painful loss in the final at Ulaanbaatar, Lausanne’s bid for a first World Tour title was dealt a blow with Carlos Martinez unavailable for the semi-final and final.
But the Swiss showed plenty of fighting spirit and they took an early lead with Malik Hluchoweckyj showing off his dazzling moves.
Westher Molteni had dominated all tournament and continued to pour in buckets as the Swiss sniffed their first ever World Tour title.
But Ub kept in touch and Dejan Majstorovic was on target from deep to level the scores at 10 apiece.
The teams traded buckets as the final was fittingly headed down to the wire. It was time for the superstars to step up and Marko Brankovic nailed a two to give Ub a 16-15 lead, but Lausanne wouldn’t roll over.
It was a drama-filled ending before Stefan Stojacic sealed the result from the free-throw line as Ub’s famous celebrations soon started.
Legendary Stojacic, who joined Ub this season, won the MVP after a dominant tournament and he finished second in player-value (40.3).
In the individual contests, Majstorovic (Ub Huishan NE) won the Shoot-Out Contest after tallying 14 points, while He Rui claimed the Maurice Lacroix Dunk Contest.
FINAL STANDINGS
1. Ub Huishan NE (SRB)
2. Lausanne (SUI)
3. Princeton (USA)
4. Beijing (CHN)
5. Liman (SRB)
6. Riffa (BRN)
7. Chongming (CHN)
8. San Juan Church’s (PUR)
9. Partizan (SRB)
10. Adazi (LAT)
11. Wuxi WenLv (CHN)
12. Ulaanbaatar MMC Energy (MGL)
13. Utrecht (NED)
14. Chengdu (CHN)
After a short break, the FIBA 3×3 World Tour 2024 returns in Edmonton, Canada, on July 6-7.
Exciting, urban and innovative, 3×3 is inspired by several forms of streetball played worldwide and is considered the world’s number one urban team sport. Steered by FIBA, games see two teams of three players face off on a basketball half-court.
It was played successfully for the first time in international competition at the 2010 Youth Olympic Games in Singapore and since then has benefited from the launch of a yearly professional circuit for men and women (World Tour and Women’s Series respectively) and national-team competitions. 3×3 made its Olympic debut at the Tokyo 2020 Games.
Wilson is the Global Ball Partner and Maurice Lacroix the Official Timekeeper of the FIBA 3×3 World Tour 2024.
FIBA 3×3 events are played on Enlio floors with Wilson balls, Schelde backstops, Bodet shot-clocks and the Magic Sky canopy system.
