BASKETBALL – Bahrain’s under-23 women’s 3×3 basketball national team took an impressive second place yesterday in the fifth and penultimate stop of the Asia West/Pacific conference in the Fiba 3×3 Youth Nations League 2026, currently being played in Singapore.

The Bahrainis, playing with the quartet of Bayan Salman, Polina Sviatskaya, JaMya Robinson, and Noor Najaf, won both their games in Pool A of the preliminary round against Qatar and Saudi Arabia, but then bowed yet again to continental powerhouses Australia in their final.

The nationals were runners-up for the third time in the five stops held so far, and they came away with 80 points for their conference standing, rising back to second place behind only the undefeated Australians after dropping to third the day prior.

Following an exciting full week’s programme in Singapore, action concludes today with the sixth and final stop in this Asia West/Pacific conference of this year’s Fiba 3×3 Youth Nations League.

Teams have been vying for points in each of the events in their bids to qualify for the Fiba 3×3 U23 World Cup, which is to be held in Hubei, China, from September 15 to 19.

Australia’s women and men are in the driver’s seat to book their berths in the worlds.

Also yesterday, Bahrain’s under-23 men’s 3×3 basketball national team split their two Pool A contests, coming up just short in their quest to secure a place in their final.

Hitting the half-court were Naser Alanzoor, Mohammed Alanzi, Mishal Buhamood, and Hamad Faisal.

They opened the stop with a win against Qatar but then lost to Saudi in their follow-up assignment.

They thus came away with 60 points for their conference rankings, where they remained fifth overall from the six participating nations heading into today’s finale.

Bahrain’s women were dominant in their opening contest yesterday against their counterparts from Qatar, who they routed 22-4 in a masterful display.

Sviatskaya spearheaded the nationals with nine points, while Salman added six, Najaf had four, and Robinson finished with three.

In their next outing, the Bahrainis were just as aggressive, beating Saudi 21-7 to complete their group schedule undefeated.

Salman had a team-high eight points, while Najaf contributed six, Sviatskaya four, and Robinson three.

Their winning run was halted, however, in a brave effort in the women’s final.

There, they lost 14-21 to Australia, who had also beaten them the other two times they advanced to the decider.

Salman scored nine points to pace Bahrain in the defeat, while Robinson chipped in with three and Sviatskaya two.

On the distaff, Bahrain’s men got their day underway on a high note yesterday, edging past Qatar 21-19 with a game-winner from Alanzi.

He put in an impressive 11-point effort for the nationals, while Alanzoor and Faisal added four apiece and Buhamood scored two points.

But the Bahrainis then lost their next game 17-22 to Saudi in another closely fought affair.

Alanzoor finished with seven points, Faisal had six, and both Alanzi and Buhamood finished with two.

Saudi won the men’s event after beating Singapore 16-10.

It was the only time all conference that Australia did not make it into a stop’s final game, having lost to the host Singaporeans 17-21 in a Pool B clash yesterday.

patrick@gdnmedia.bh

BASKETBALL – BAHRAIN’S under-23 3×3 basketball women’s national team impressed for a second straight day yesterday in the Asia West/Pacific conference of the Fiba 3×3 Youth Nations League 2026, currently being played in Singapore.

The kingdom’s squad, featuring the quartet of Bayan Salman, Ninel Merkotun, Polina Sviatskaya, and JaMya Robinson, were runners-up in the series’ second stop, claiming the same position from the opening day of action on Thursday.

The Bahrainis were dominant in their two preliminary round contests yesterday against Qatar and Saudi Arabia, but then ran into continental powerhouses Australia in the final for the second successive day. The nationals came away with another 80 points for their conference standings.

Action in Singapore continues today with stop three of six. Following a rest day tomorrow, play will resume on Monday and will be held until the completion of the series on Wednesday.

Teams earn points in each of the six stops as they continue their qualification bids for the Fiba 3×3 U23 World Cup, which is to be held in Hubei, China, from September 15 to 19.

Also competing yesterday in Singapore were Bahrain’s under-23 3×3 basketball men’s national team, who finished fourth for the second consecutive stop.

The Bahrainis split their two fixtures in the preliminaries, beating Qatar but then losing to Saudi, as they came just short of advancing to their final.

Their squad that took to the half-court yesterday included Elyas Younes, Naser Alanzoor, Mishal Buhamood, Hamad Faisal. They collected 60 points for their conference standings.

In yesterday’s women’s tournament, Bahrain got their Pool A campaign off with a resounding 21-4 rout of Qatar. Merkotun led the team with nine points, while Sviatskaya added six, Salman had four, and Robinson finished with two points.

The Bahrainis were then just as outstanding in their next game, where they defeated Saudi with a similar 21-4 score. Salman was their top gun this time, firing in nine points. Sviatskaya chipped in with six, Robinson had four, and Merkotun scored two.

Bahrain’s women then faced off with Australia in the final, where they lost 6-21. Robinson and Sviatskaya had three points apiece in the defeat.

On the distaff, the men’s team got their Pool A schedule underway with a fine 14-8 triumph against Qatar. Alanzoor, Buhamood, and Faisal scored four points apiece, while Younes had two.

The nationals then came agonisingly close to another victory – which would have earned them a berth in the final – but fell to a narrow 16-19 loss to Saudi. Younes had a game-high nine markers, while Faisal contributed four points and Alanzoor had three.

Saudi went on to face Australia in the men’s final, with the Aussies taking the win 20-10.

In today’s third stop in the Asia West/Pacific conference of the Fiba 3×3 Youth Nations League 2026, Bahrain’s women will play in Pool B of the preliminary round with Australia and Qatar, while the men will be in Pool A of their event with Australia and Singapore.

patrick@gdnmedia.bh

The FIBA 3×3 World Tour 2025 is set for a dramatic showdown in Manama, Kingdom of Bahrain, as the world’s best men’s 3×3 teams will compete for the ultimate prize in 3×3 basketball on 21-22 November 2025.

A total of 12 teams, who have qualified through the World Tour circuit, will descend on the Kingdom for this 15^th and final stop. Following successful back-to-back hosting of World Tour events in 2023 and 2024, Bahrain proudly hosts the prestigious World Tour Final for the very first time.

Set against the vibrant backdrop of Manama harbour, fans of the most thrilling urban team sport will enjoy two days of world-class basketball action and an unparalleled urban festival atmosphere.

“Hosting the FIBA 3×3 World Tour Final 2025 in Manama is a proud moment for Bahrain and a testament to our growing reputation as a world-class sporting destination,” said His Highness Shaikh Isa bin Ali Al Khalifa, Vice President of the Bahrain Olympic Committee, Vice President of the Olympic Council of Asia. “We are thrilled to welcome the world’s best 3×3 basketball players and fans to our shores for an unforgettable celebration of sport, culture and community.”

“We are excited to bring down the curtain on this year’s FIBA 3×3 World Tour 2025 in spectacular fashion in downtown Manama,” said FIBA 3×3 Managing Director Alex Sanchez. “Thanks to Bahrain’s world-class organisation, players, fans and everyone involved can expect an incredible sports festival atmosphere fitting of a World Tour Final.”

The iconic waterfront location of the Harbour North will provide the ultimate 3×3 showcase in a welcoming city home to a growing community of passionate basketball fans.

The 12 teams battling it out to claim the ultimate title in Manama are:

Ub (Serbia)
Amsterdam Rabobank (Netherlands)
Miami (USA)
Chongming (China)
Liman (Serbia)
Raudondvaris Hoptrans (Lithuania)
Riffa (Bahrain)
Toulouse (France)
Hangzhou (China)
Vienna (Austria)
Skyliners (Germany)
Partizan (Serbia)
Lugano (Switzerland)

These teams will be joined by host nation team, Seef (BRN), ensuring a strong local presence at the finale.

Off the court, this landmark event is set to leave a lasting legacy in the Kingdom, inspiring young people across Bahrain and the wider region to embrace the sport and develop the next generation of 3×3 basketball talent.