Chicago bring house down on Day 1 at Americas Masters

MEXICO CITY (FIBA 3x3 World Tour) - Chicago (USA) put on an absolute show on the opening day at the FIBA 3x3 World Tour Americas Masters on Saturday 24 September 2016.

The winners of the USA Basketball national tournament - who will represent the US at the FIBA 3x3 World Championships - set the Perisur shopping mall on fire with a succession of highlight plays.

The team - put together by an organisation named 3 Ball - had back-to-back wins in Pool B against Rio Preto (BRA) 21-19 and Loja (ECU) 21-15 on Day 1.

The explosive Mike Henry was the star for Chicago with 20 points. The 23-year-old actually topped all scorers on Day 1, tied with Mexico DF's Jesus Gonzalez.

Stefhon Hannah and the spectacular Alfonzo McKinnie added 10 while Terrelle Green had 2.

There were three more undefeated teams on Saturday.

São Paulo DC (BRA) not only won Pool A; they also clinched their ticket to the FIBA 3x3 World Tour Final by advancing to the quarter-finals.

Regardless of what happens tomorrow in the knock-out rounds, they have a guaranteed 85 points in the season standings after finishing 5th in the Debrecen Masters. This puts them at 11th overall. Only the winner of the Americas Masters will top these 85 points and the top 12 teams in the season standings make it to Abu Dhabi.

Mogi das Cruzes (BRA) dominated Pool C after surprising local favourites Mexico DF (MEX).

Last but not least, Joinville (BRA) were the third Brazilian team with a clean 2-0 record on Day 1 in Pool D.

Facundo Fillol (La Plata) topped all participants with 7 points in the Shoot-Out qualifier. The Argentinian will be joined by Ismar Do Neto (São Paulo DC), Maurice Riddick (Mexico DF) and Fabio Schoenberger (Joinville) tomorrow in the final.

The World Tour is back tomorrow Sunday 25 September from 1pm local time, with the dunk contest and the knock-out rounds.

View the bracket

São Paulo DC (BRA, 1) - Talca (CHI, 4)
Mogi das Cruzes (BRA, 3) - Loja (ECU, 7)
Chicago (USA, 10) - Mexico DF (MEX, 11)
Joinville (BRA, 5) - Alexandria (EGY, 9)

FIBA