ANTWERP (Belgium) – Lithuania return to the FIBA 3×3 Europe Cup Crelan 2026 with a target firmly in sight and crosshairs squared on their backs. The reigning champions lifted the trophy in Copenhagen last year after recovering from an opening-game defeat to Austria to win four straight games, but their latest major tournament ended in a different fashion. Latvia knocked Lithuania out in the Quarter-Finals of the FIBA 3×3 World Cup 2026, setting up another chapter in a rivalry that will resume almost immediately in Antwerp.

Lithuania’s 2025 run underlined their ability to navigate the pressure of a short tournament. After the early setback, they responded with four consecutive victories to claim the European crown, with Ignas Vaitkus earning Men’s MVP honors. A year later, they return with the same objective, but with a different challenge in front of them.

The defending champions will have to do it without two members of last year’s title-winning squad, Aurelijus Pukelis and Marijus Uzupis. Paulius Sorokas, Evaldas Saulys, Evaldas Dziaugys and Vaitkus make up Lithuania’s roster for Antwerp, giving the team a rejigged combination to work with as they attempt to retain the crown.

Vaitkus remains the key link to last year’s success. The reigning Europe Cup MVP returns with experience of what it takes to win this competition, and his leadership will be particularly important as Lithuania adjust to their new-look lineup.

The draw, though, has given Lithuania little time to settle in. They are in Pool C alongside Latvia and Ireland, with the Latvia matchup carrying plenty of recent history. Lithuania defeated Latvia in the FIBA 3×3 Europe Cup 2025 Final, only for Latvia to gain revenge by eliminating them in the FIBA 3×3 World Cup 2026 Quarter-Finals. Now the two sides meet again, this time with a place in the Europe Cup knockout stage on the line.

The compact format leaves little room for mistakes. Lithuania will need to navigate both pool games effectively, with finishing second potentially setting up a Quarter-Final matchup against powerhouse Serbia. The route to the podium will be unforgiving from the outset.

For Lithuania, however, the objective extends beyond simply reaching the knockout rounds. A successful title defense would make another statement about their place among Europe’s leading men’s 3×3 basketball programs, while the 2026 champions will also qualify for the FIBA 3×3 World Cup 2027 and FIBA 3×3 Champions Cup 2027.

Copenhagen established Lithuania as Europe’s champions. Antwerp will test whether they can remain there. Can the defending champions turn their World Cup disappointment into another Europe Cup triumph?

Stay Connected

Follow all the latest action from the FIBA 3×3 Cups tournaments throughout the 2026 season by visiting the official FIBA 3×3 website, where you can find the latest news, star players and everything you need to know. Fans can also keep track of the Event Calendar and the latest FIBA 3×3 Individual and Federation Rankings as teams and players continue their push toward the season finale.

Want to learn more about 3×3 basketball? Explore the official FIBA 3×3 Rules to understand the unique fast-paced format of the game, or discover the FIBA 3×3 Competition Structure to see how the discipline’s global pathway connects grassroots events, professional tours and world-class international competitions.

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ANTWERP (Belgium) – The Netherlands arrive in Antwerp with a FIBA 3×3 Europe Cup Crelan crown to defend and a painful reminder of how difficult defending major titles can be. The Dutch won the FIBA 3×3 World Cup 2025, but were unable to retain their world title in 2026. Their latest FIBA 3×3 Women’s Series campaign also ended short of the top banner, with Rapid Bucharest eliminating them in the Semi-Finals of the FIBA 3×3 Women’s Series Project Redwings Shanghai Final 2026. Now, the Netherlands have another major championship to protect: the Europe Cup, which they won in Copenhagen last year.

That makes Antwerp about more than simply another tournament. The Dutch entered 2026 holding both the World Cup and Europe Cup titles, but one has already slipped away. They will not want the same fate to await the other.

The Shanghai result adds another layer to that story. The Netherlands fell 18-14 to Rapid Bucharest in the Semi-Finals before finishing third, underlining once again how little separates the leading teams in women’s 3×3 basketball. Prior to that loss, they had won 27 Women’s Series games in succession. Now, though, there is no time to dwell on that result, especially with another major competition and another opportunity to make a statement about to begin.

The Netherlands know how to win the Europe Cup. They have already done it. We have already seen it. They defeated Azerbaijan in the Europe Cup 2025 Final to claim the crown in Copenhagen, and now they are seeking to become back-to-back champions. Repeating, however, brings its own challenge as the rest of the field knows what the defending champions are capable of. Every opponent certainly has the same objective of taking the gold away from them.

Noortje Driessen will be central to that mission. The reigning Europe Cup MVP returns as one of the Netherlands’ key leaders, bringing experience from the biggest stages of 3×3 basketball. However, the Dutch will also need significant contributions from Janis Boonstra, Ilse Kuijt and Evelien Lutje Schipholt as they look to navigate another high-pressure national-team tournament.

Interestingly enough, their Pool A draw provides an early test. Azerbaijan and Ukraine join the Netherlands in the group, with the meeting against Azerbaijan carrying plenty of recent history. The Dutch beat Azerbaijan in last year’s Europe Cup Final, while they also defeated Neftchi SOCAR — featuring Azerbaijan players — 22-12 in Shanghai. At the FIBA 3×3 World Cup 2026, the Netherlands again came out on top against Azerbaijan, winning 19-13 in pool play and 21-14 in the battle for third place.

Azerbaijan will now get another chance in Antwerp, while Ukraine will look to disrupt the established order in a pool where every game matters.

The stakes extend beyond another European banner as well. The Europe Cup 2026 champions will qualify for the FIBA 3×3 World Cup 2027 and FIBA 3×3 Champions Cup 2027, giving the Netherlands another reason to keep their focus firmly on the crown.

They have already lost one title they entered the year determined to defend. They will not want to lose another. Can the Netherlands turn their recent disappointments into the motivation needed to keep hold of their Europe Cup crown?

Antwerp holds the key.

Stay Connected

Follow all the latest action from the FIBA 3×3 Cups tournaments throughout the 2026 season by visiting the official FIBA 3×3 website, where you can find the latest news, star players and everything you need to know. Fans can also keep track of the Event Calendar and the latest FIBA 3×3 Individual and Federation Rankings as teams and players continue their push toward the season finale.

Want to learn more about 3×3 basketball? Explore the official FIBA 3×3 Rules to understand the unique fast-paced format of the game, or discover the FIBA 3×3 Competition Structure to see how the discipline’s global pathway connects grassroots events, professional tours and world-class international competitions.

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