Ub Huishan NE win FIBA 3x3 World Tour Manila Masters 2023
MANILA (Philippines) - No.1 seeds Ub Huishan NE (SRB) defended their title in style to beat Futian (CHN) 21-17 in an epic final and win the FIBA 3x3 Manila Masters on May 21.
After dominating 2022 and winning the Utsunomiya Opener, Ub entered the final as favorites but highly-rated Futian (CHN) - led by recruits Dimeo van der Horst and Thibaut Vervoort - loomed as a major challenge.
Ub skipped out to an early 7-3 lead highlighted by trademark chemistry and pretty passing, but Futian fought back through hot shooting from Vervoort and van der Horst.
MVP Strahinja Stojacic went into attack mode and delivered a thunderous dunk in traffic to keep Ub ahead but this went down to the wire.
No.1 ranked Stojacic and sharpshooter Marko Brankovic proved too good down the stretch as Ub won their 10th straight game on the World Tour to start 2023.
Stojacic finished with 6 points and 8 highlights to capture his second straight MVP after also winning top honors in Utsunomiya.
In the individual contests, Riga's Miroslav Pasajlic won the Maurice Lacroix Shoot-Out Contest, while Filipino David 'Air' Carlos thrilled the home fans to claim the Chooks Dunk Contest.
FINAL STANDINGS
1. Ub Huishan NE (SRB)
2. Futian (CHN)
3. Beijing (CHN)
4. San Juan (PUR)
5. Amsterdam HiPRO (NED)
6. Utsunomiya BREX EXE (JPN)
7. Riga (LAT)
8. Sansar MMC Energy (MGL)
9. Dusseldorf LFDY (GER)
10. Manila Chooks (PHI)
11. Tsukuba ALBORADA (JPN)
12. Al Wakrah (QAT)
After a short break due to the FIBA 3x3 World Cup 2023 in Vienna the World Tour returns (June 30-July 1) with the Marseille Masters.
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Exciting, urban and innovative, 3x3 is inspired by several forms of streetball played worldwide and is considered the world’s number one urban team sport. Steered by FIBA, games see two teams of three players face off on a basketball half-court.
It was played successfully for the first time in international competition at the 2010 Youth Olympic Games in Singapore and since then has benefited from the launch of a yearly professional circuit for men and women (World Tour and Women’s Series respectively) and national-team competitions.
3x3 made its Olympic debut at the Tokyo 2020 Games.
Wilson is the Global Ball Partner. Wilson is also the Apparel Partner, Maurice Lacroix the Official Timekeeper and Chooks-to-Go the Global Partner of the FIBA 3x3 World Tour 2023.
FIBA 3x3 events are played on Enlio floors with Wilson balls, Schelde backstops, Bodet shot-clocks and the Magic Sky canopy system.
For further information about 3x3, visit fiba3x3.basketball, FIBA 3x3 accounts on Douyin, Facebook, Instagram, Sina Weibo, Tencent, TikTok, Twitch, Twitter, Youku and YouTube or contact 3x3@fiba.basketball.
FIBA