Will Novi Sad find their way at the FIBA 3x3 World Tour Europe Masters 2020?
DEBRECEN (Hungary) – Novi Sad are the only Top 3 team, who have not won a Masters since the return of 3x3. Next chance on September 4-5 at the FIBA 3x3 World Tour Europe Masters.
The 4-time FIBA 3x3 World Tour winners have failed to advance to the finals of both the Debrecen and Hungary Masters event, despite giving up only 13 points total in the pool stage on Tuesday.
While the offense has been good (they rank 4th in points per game on the season, 3rd in 1-point, 4th in free throw and 6th in 2-point percentage), their defense has not been as suffocating as usual (20 points conceded against Piran, 21 against Liman, 22 against Ub, just 11th overall in rebounds per game).
But we've learned through the years not to underestimate Dusan Bulut and Novi Sad, especially in Debrecen where they won 2 Masters (2016, 2018) and the Europe Cup representing Serbia last year.
Novi Sad will begin their journey in Pool B alongside Gagarin (RUS), who were knocked out in the qualifying draw at the Hungary Masters, and Jeddah (KSA), who lost in the quarter-finals on Wednesday.
In Pool A, top seed Liman will look to correct course following a disappointing 7th place finish at the Hungary Masters. Good news: their leader and Debrecen Masters MVP Stefan Stojacic announced his intention to return for the Europe Masters. He will have to deal with Ulaanbaatar MMC Energy (MGL), who reached the quarter-finals in the last Masters and Lausanne (SUI), against whom they lost on Wednesday.
The Hungary Masters winners Riga (SRB) will headline Pool C with Piran (SLO) and Debrecen (HUN). Following his MVP performance, Karlis Lasmanis and his Riga teammates are going to be difficult to beat, finally winning an event in Debrecen following multiple second-place finishes.
NY Harlem (USA) round out the top 4 seeds, leading Pool D alongside Zemun (SRB), the 11th ranked team in the world, led by Nikola Vukovic. The 3rd team in the pool will come from the winner of the qualifying draw, which features Sakiai (LTU), Moscow Inanomo (RUS), and Paris (FRA), three teams with major scoring threats.
The pools are as follows:
Pool A: Liman (SRB), Ulaanbaatar (MGL), Lausanne (SUI)
Pool B: Novi Sad (SRB), Gagarin (RUS), Jeddah (KSA)
Pool C: Riga (LAT), Piran (SLO), Debrecen (HUN)
Pool D: NY Harlem (USA), Zemun (SRB), Qualifying Draw Winner
The players will be back on the court on Friday with 109k USD in total on the line.
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