JEDDAH (Saudi Arabia) – Reigning champions Ub Huishan NE (SRB) retain the title, defeating Amsterdam HiPRO (NED) 21 – 15 to win the FIBA 3×3 World Tour Jeddah Final Masters 2023 on December 9.
The now two-time World Tour-winning Serbian side were dominant in Jeddah, going unbeaten in Group Play before defeating Lausanne Sport LS and Antwerp TOPdesk in the knockout stages to book a spot in the final.
A rematch of the Final in Marseille earlier in the season, they were pitted against Amsterdam led by Worthy De Jong who had been just as on-form. However, World Number one and season MVP Strahinja Stojacic imposed his will early. He picked up four early points as they stifled the Dutch offense. They forged ahead to a 6-point thanks to buckets from Nenad Nerandžić and Marko Brankovic. De Jong and Julian Jaring rallied a fight, but the Serbians kept hold of the lead.
A comprehensive team effort proved to be too powerful a force for Amsterdam to contend with as the game found itself 19 – 12. Arvin Slagter added to the consolation fight with De Jong, making it 15 but that’s when ‘the Maestro’ Dejan Majstorovic iced the game with a two. Ub were once again your World Tour champions.
Strahinja Stojacic was the light for Ub once again as his early barrage set the mark. He scored a joint game-high 6 points in the final, capping off a 32-point tournament. He led his side in Player Value as well with 38.3. His impact was indelible as it earned him the MVP award in Jeddah.
In the Individual contests, Marijus Uzupis (Raudondvaris Hoptrans) won the Saudi Basketball Federation shoot-out contest while Piotr ‘Grabo’ Grabowski (POL) won the Maurice Lacroix dunk contest.
