Princeton king on Day 1 of FIBA 3x3 World Tour Utsunomiya Opener

UTSUNOMIYA (Japan) - World Tour 2019 runners-up Princeton (USA) impressed on Day 1 of the FIBA 3x3 World Tour Utsunomiya Opener on May 14, 2022.

THE TEAM

Utsunomiya feels like home for Princeton. After reaching the title game last time the World Tour passed by the city (back in 2019), Princeton came back to Japan and started the 2022 campaign undefeated, shocking the #1 team in the ranking Ub Huishan NE (SRB) in the opening game (21-17) and also defeating Lausanne (SUI) 22-15. Kareem Maddox led the US team with 15 points on Day 1. 

 
World Tour reigning champs Liman (SRB) also started on the right foot with 2 wins over local favorites Utsunomiya BREX (JPN) and Sakiai (LTU). In that last game, Stefan Kojic gave us the first Maurice Lacroix Buzzer Beater of the year! 

Special mention to Antwerp (BEL), who also had a perfect record despite playing without a sub. 

 
THE PLAYER

Antwerp star Thibaut Vervoort put on a full show on Day 1. He led the event in key assists (8) and total highlights (12) and was second in points scored (20) and player value (26.4)

THE STATS

Nauris Miezis  (Riga, LAT) scored 15 points against Tokyo Dime, outscoring the entire Japanese team.

Dimeo van der Horst (Amsterdam, NED) finished as top scorer with 22 points and number 1 in player value (28.2). He also hit 8 shots from beyond the arc in less than 20 minutes.

Van der Horst and Nick Celis (Antwerp, BEL) were the only two players to have a double five in both pool games.

Riga vs Tokyo Dime  was the Maurice Lacroix fastest game of the day (7:23)

DAY 2

Watch Day 2 of the World Tour Utsunomiya Opener on our YouTube channel

 
FIBA