Amsterdam HiPRO aiming to regroup at FIBA 3x3 Fribourg Challenger 2023
FRIBOURG (Switzerland) - After falling agonizingly short at the Marseille Masters, Amsterdam HiPRO (NED) will be out to end their title drought at the FIBA 3x3 Fribourg Challenger on July 7-8.
The Dutch Masters are part of the 16-team draw and there are also three tickets available for the Debrecen Masters, which is the eighth stop on this season's FIBA 3x3 World Tour.
Let's preview all the action.
The Favorites
Amsterdam came so close to a first title of the season but were denied by unstoppable Ub Huishan NE in a crazy final in Marseille.
They'll need to rebound quickly but will be without superstar Worthy de Jong who created a heatwave in the pretty French port city.
Amsterdam still have plenty of talent with big fella Jan Driessen hoping to pick up some of the scoring slack and so too sniper Arvin Slagter.
Vienna (AUT) also arrived in Fribourg confident after a semi-final finish in Marseille, where they were also denied by Ub in an insane contest.
Nico Kaltenbrunner and Quincy Diggs provided a deadly one-two punch and if Filip Kramer can rediscover playing above the rim then Vienna will be hard to stop.
No.2 seeds Antwerp TOPdesk (BEL) were another team knocked out by Ub in Marseille, but unlike the aforementioned teams they've already tasted a title this season.
Still, Antwerp are hungry for another but will be without defensive specialist Dennis Donkor. It will be another opportunity to watch young gun Vic Van Oosterwyck, who starred in Antwerp's win at the Ulaanbaatar Challenger.
Partizan's (SRB) form has been like a yo-yo having won in Orleans only to be winless in Poitiers. But they deserve to still be rated among the contenders and so too Paris (FRA) led by excitement machine Franck Seguela.
The Field
There are plenty of teams capable of upsetting the favorites and going all the way starting with Utsunomiya BREX EXE (JPN), who have impressed this season with Marko Milakovic a flamethrower.
Omaha 3BALL's chances of a deep run have been boosted by speedy Trey Bardsley, who is making his season debut.
Last but certainly not least are a couple of Swiss teams who will get plenty of support from the local fans.
Fribourg (SUI) have shown glimpses of brilliance this season which shouldn't surprise considering they boast bulldozer Natan Jurkovitz, who is set to make the paint his personal playground.
While Lausanne always love playing on home soil and this should be no exception with lightning-quick Gilles Martin likely to run rings around opponents.
Pools
Pool A: Vienna (AUT), Omaha 3BALL (USA), Fribourg (SUI)
Pool B: Antwerp TOPdesk (BEL), Utsunomiya BREX EXE (JPN), Qualifier
Pool C: Amsterdam HiPRO (NED), Lausanne, Qualifier
Pool D: Partizan (SRB), Paris (FRA), Bulle Koujena (SUI)
What's at stake
The top 3 teams in Fribourg will qualify for the Debrecen Masters on August 26-27, 2023, as part of the FIBA 3x3 World Tour.
How to watch
The two-day extravaganza is on July 7-8 and you can follow it live on the FIBA 3x3 YouTube and Facebook pages.
FIBA