NOUMEA, SUD (New Caledonia) – Tonga has created a defining moment in Oceania 3×3 basketball, winning both the men’s and women’s titles at the FIBA 3×3 Nations League 2026 – Pacific and qualifying two national teams for the FIBA 3×3 U23 World Cup for the first time in the country’s history.

The women were flawless across the entire campaign, not dropping a single game, while the men sealed their overall victory with only two losses on the final day in a gritty, high‑stakes finish that underlined their growth and composure.

This achievement continues Tonga’s rapid rise in the 3×3 format, following their strong performances at recent FIBA 3×3 Asia Cup in Singapore. Earlier this year, the women’s team made history by advancing through to the main draw for the first time, a breakthrough that signalled their readiness to compete at a higher level and set the tone for their dominant Youth Nations League run.

Their momentum now carries into next month, where the Tonga women will represent the nation at the Commonwealth Games, marking another major milestone in the program’s evolution and visibility on the international stage.

“We’re proud of what our teams have been able to do across the campaign, especially to come away with both qualifying for the U23 World Cup, Tonga Basketball High Performance Director, Cahn Fitzgerald said. “But just as important is recognising the level of competition we faced. Every team brought intensity, physicality, and heart, which reflects the rapid growth of 3×3 across the Blue Pacific.

“We had to earn everything. Nothing came easy, and that’s what makes this result meaningful for us. The players were the embodiment of the Tonga Basketball creed: Tonga Mo’ui Li’oa (Life of Sacrifice; Always). They worked for this win – for each other, for their families, and most importantly, for the Kingdom of Tonga.”

With both teams now bound for the FIBA 3×3 U23 World Cup in China later this year, Tonga will take its place on one of the sport’s most important youth stages, carrying the confidence of a historic campaign and the belief that they belong among the world’s rising 3×3 nations.

Their qualification also contributes valuable points to the FIBA 3×3 Federation Ranking, a system that directly influences Olympic pathways. But the impact extends beyond Tonga. Every federation that competed in this year’s Youth Nations League, including Fiji, New Caledonia, and Solomon Islands, added meaningful ranking points that strengthen the regions collective position ahead of Los Angeles 2028.

The accumulation of points across multiple nations is critical for the region’s long‑term competitiveness, ensuring more Oceania teams remain in contention for future World Cups, Asia Cups, and ultimately Olympic qualification.

FIBA Executive Director – Oceania, Amanda Jenkins, said the progress across the region is the result of sustained commitment and opportunity.

“This year’s FIBA 3×3 Nations League – Pacific showed just how far Oceania National Federations have come in a short time. Every team contributed to the region’s ranking, every game mattered, and the level of play continues to rise.

This year’s event closed with clear signs of progress, highlighted by Tonga’s historic sweep and the steady improvement shown by every federation throughout the series.

With qualification now secured and the next phase of international events approaching, teams shift their focus to the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, the FIBA 3×3 U23 World Cup and the wider 3×3 calendar, carrying valuable ranking points and meaningful competitive experience into the months ahead.

California women’s basketball senior guard Lulu Twidale competed for Australia in this month’s FIBA 3×3 Youth Nation’s League and helped her team qualify for a spot in the FIBA 3×3 U23 World Cup and go undefeated over the course of the six-day tournament in the Asia West/Pacific region which took place in Singapore. The Australian national team, known as the Gangurrus, won all 18 games and even recorded the fastest victory of the tournament with its 21-0 win over Qatar in a record time of 4:44.
 
The competition was part of a larger group of regional tournaments that were scheduled across Africa, the Americas, Asia, Europe and the Pacific throughout the summer with each tournament’s winner qualifying for the FIBA 3×3 U23 World Cup in Hubei, China which will take place Sep. 15-19. The Asia West/Pacific region consisted of host Singapore, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Turkmenistan across six stops.
 
Twidale averaged 6.1 points per game and led the team in scoring in eight of the contests including the first three of the tournament. She scored at least eight points in six matches.
 
Twidale is coming off her best season as a Golden Bear in which she set programs records for both single-season and career 3-pointers and finished the season fifth in the nation for triples (101). Last season she posted three 30-point games and had career season highs in scoring (16.2), points (566), assists (128), 3-pointers, rebounds (138) and free throws made (109). Twidale enters the 2026-27 season ranked second in the NCAA for career 3-pointers among active players.
 
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Qatar to Compete in FIBA 3×3 Youth Nations League 2026 – Asia West/Pacific in Singapore Monday

Singapore, August 23 (QNA) – Qatar’s men and women’s U23 3×3 basketball teams are intensively preparing for of the FIBA 3×3 Youth Nations League 2026 – Asia West/Pacific taking place in Singapore.

The Qatari men’s squad comprises Mohammed Ahmed, Abdulrahman Ashraf, Mubarak Jama, and Issa Radi, whereas the women’s squad features Dima Khalid, Sara Zayed, Dana Al Sayed, and Fatima Jamal.

Stop 4 on Monday will see both Qatari teams face Turkmenistan and Australia in Group B.

Team Qatar have produced positive results in the Youth Nations League over the past three days, gaining valuable international experience. (QNA)

NOUMEA, SUD (New Caledonia) – Tonga has created a defining moment in Oceania 3×3 basketball, winning both the men’s and women’s titles at the FIBA 3×3 Nations League 2026 – Pacific and qualifying two national teams for the FIBA 3×3 U23 World Cup for the first time in the country’s history.

The women were flawless across the entire campaign, not dropping a single game, while the men sealed their overall victory with only two losses on the final day in a gritty, high‑stakes finish that underlined their growth and composure.

This achievement continues Tonga’s rapid rise in the 3×3 format, following their strong performances at recent FIBA 3×3 Asia Cup in Singapore. Earlier this year, the women’s team made history by advancing through to the main draw for the first time, a breakthrough that signalled their readiness to compete at a higher level and set the tone for their dominant Youth Nations League run.

Their momentum now carries into next month, where the Tonga women will represent the nation at the Commonwealth Games, marking another major milestone in the program’s evolution and visibility on the international stage.

“We’re proud of what our teams have been able to do across the campaign, especially to come away with both qualifying for the U23 World Cup, Tonga Basketball High Performance Director, Cahn Fitzgerald said. “But just as important is recognising the level of competition we faced. Every team brought intensity, physicality, and heart, which reflects the rapid growth of 3×3 across the Blue Pacific.

“We had to earn everything. Nothing came easy, and that’s what makes this result meaningful for us. The players were the embodiment of the Tonga Basketball creed: Tonga Mo’ui Li’oa (Life of Sacrifice; Always). They worked for this win – for each other, for their families, and most importantly, for the Kingdom of Tonga.”

With both teams now bound for the FIBA 3×3 U23 World Cup in China later this year, Tonga will take its place on one of the sport’s most important youth stages, carrying the confidence of a historic campaign and the belief that they belong among the world’s rising 3×3 nations.

Their qualification also contributes valuable points to the FIBA 3×3 Federation Ranking, a system that directly influences Olympic pathways. But the impact extends beyond Tonga. Every federation that competed in this year’s Youth Nations League, including Fiji, New Caledonia, and Solomon Islands, added meaningful ranking points that strengthen the regions collective position ahead of Los Angeles 2028.

The accumulation of points across multiple nations is critical for the region’s long‑term competitiveness, ensuring more Oceania teams remain in contention for future World Cups, Asia Cups, and ultimately Olympic qualification.

FIBA Executive Director – Oceania, Amanda Jenkins, said the progress across the region is the result of sustained commitment and opportunity.

“This year’s FIBA 3×3 Nations League – Pacific showed just how far Oceania National Federations have come in a short time. Every team contributed to the region’s ranking, every game mattered, and the level of play continues to rise.

This year’s event closed with clear signs of progress, highlighted by Tonga’s historic sweep and the steady improvement shown by every federation throughout the series.

With qualification now secured and the next phase of international events approaching, teams shift their focus to the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, the FIBA 3×3 U23 World Cup and the wider 3×3 calendar, carrying valuable ranking points and meaningful competitive experience into the months ahead.

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

BASKETBALL – Bahrain’s under-23 3×3 basketball women’s national team secured an impressive runner-up finish yesterday in stop one of the Asia West/Pacific conference in the Fiba 3×3 Youth Nations League 2026, currently being played in Singapore.

The Bahrainis, featuring the quartet of Bayan Salman, Ninel Merkotun, Polina Sviatskaia, and JaMya Robinson, topped their preliminary round group after winning both their games against hosts Singapore and Saudi Arabia, but they then lost in the women’s final against Australia.

Their squad, coached by veteran Bahraini tactician Murtadha Mohammed, came away with 80 points following their classification in second place.

Yesterday’s action marked the first of six stops in the Asia West/Pacific conference of this year’s Fiba 3×3 Youth Nations League.

The second will take place today until the completion of the series on Wednesday next week.

Teams earn points in each of the 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 their competition in fourth place.

Coached by Fiba 3×3 World Tour standout Bogdan Dragovic, the Bahrainis split their two fixtures in the preliminaries which were also against Singapore and Saudi.

Their one victory wasn’t enough, however, to book their berth in the men’s final.

Their squad features Ismaeel Alansari, Elyas Younes, Mishal Buhamood, and Mohammed Alanzi.

They came away with 60 points on their conference standings.

Bahrain’s delegation in Singapore is headed by Bahrain Basketball Association official Ahmed Elyas.

Both the women’s and men’s squads feature two other players for a total of six apiece, with Noor Najaf and Amina Hani also looking to lace up their sneakers for the women and Nasser Alanzoor and Hamad Faisal hoping to play for the men.

In yesterday’s opening stop, Bahrain’s women got their Pool A campaign underway with a 13-9 victory over Singapore.

Robinson scored five points to pace the nationals while Salman added four, Sviatskaya had three, and Merkotun chipped in with one.

The kingdom’s squad then followed that up with a 19-5 rout of Saudi. Robinson and Sviatskaya finished with seven points apiece in Bahrain’s victory, while Salman had four and Merkotun one point.

In the women’s final, however, Australia were too good and they held the Bahrainis to just eight points en route to securing the 21-point target.

Salman scored four for the nationals while Sviatskaya added three and Merkotun one.

Meanwhile, the men’s team lost their opening Pool A game to the home side Singaporeans 6-21, with Alanzi finishing as their leading scorer with just three points.

They roared back with a 14-11 triumph against Saudi as Alansari, Younes, and Buhamood had four points apiece, while Alanzi chipped in with two markers.

Australia went on to win the men’s final 22-18 against Singapore.

In today’s second stop, both Bahrain’s women’s and men’s teams are in Pool A of their respective competitions along with Saudi and Qatar.

They will each once again hope to top their division to qualify for today’s final.

patrick@gdnmedia.bh

Published August 21, 2026 1:19pm

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The Gilas Pilipinas U23 men’s and women’s teams ruled Stop 3 of the FIBA 3×3 Youth Nations League – Asia SEA, held in Malaysia on August 19.

The Philippine men’s team, composed of collegiate standouts Andrew Bongo, Doys Dungo, Rhyle Melencio, and Luis Pablo, swept all three of its games, defeating Vietnam, 21-9, Chinese Taipei, 21-13, and New Zealand, 21-19, in the final to claim the title.

The women’s team also swept the stop, beating Thailand, 21-9, New Zealand, 17-16, and Chinese Taipei, 17-14, in the final.

The women’s team is composed of Amyah Espanol, Kennan Ka, Jamanah Meniano, and Maria Victoria Pasilang.

In the first stop, the Philippine women’s team also ruled the tournament, while the men’s team placed third.

In Stop 2, the men’s team finished second.

The Philippines will return to action on Friday for the fourth stop, with two more stops happening this weekend.

—JKC, GMA News

Oakland’s Swartz to Play in FIBA 3×3 Nations League Americas Conference

June 17

Oakland Golden Grizzlies

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – USA Basketball announced the 2026 USA 3×3 Men’s and Women’s Nations Leagues teams set to compete at the 2026 FIBA 3×3 Nations League Americas Conference June 27-July 3 in Ñuñoa, Chile. Oakland sophomore transfer Brady Swartz will make his USA debut after being named to the men’s team on Wednesday.

The 6-7 guard came to Rochester after playing his freshman year at Western Michigan. With the Broncos, he started 17 games, totaling 192 points while averaging 7.7 points per game and 4.6 rebounds per game. He went 62-for-152 from the field, 29-for-85 from deep, and scored a season-high 20 points at Ohio State back in November.

Along with Swartz, the 2026 USA 3×3 Men’s Nations League roster includes NCAA athletes Hank Alvey, CJ Gunn, Kevair Kennedy, Pace Prosser, and Eric Dailey Jr.

The 2026 FIBA 3×3 Nations League Americas Conference North will feature six three-game tournaments over seven days. The competition will run in a ‘stops’ format, with multiple stops held over the course of the week-long event. Teams will accumulate points based on their performance in each stop. Team members can substitute as needed for each day’s four-person entry.

The FIBA 3×3 Nations League will be a qualification route to the 2026 FIBA 3×3 U23 World Cup. Conference winners will qualify for the event, set for Sept. 15-19 in Wuhan, China. 

3×3 is played on a half-court with a 10-minute clock and a 12-second shot clock. The first team to 21 points, or the team in the lead at the end of regulation, is the winner.

How to Follow Oakland Men’s Basketball: For complete information on Oakland Men’s Basketball, follow the team on X at @OaklandMBB and head coach Greg Kampe at @KampeOU. The team is also on Instagram and Facebook.