MACAU (China) – Miami (USA) and Ub (SRB) made winning starts to the FIBA 3×3 World Tour Macau 2026, sweeping their respective pools to advance to the Quarter-Finals as a dramatic opening day delivered clutch shots, major upsets and a remarkable qualifying run for Taipei WanBao (TPE).

Miami handled DeQing (CHN) 22-14 before defeating Ulaanbaatar MMC Energy (MGL) 21-16 to finish unbeaten in Pool C. Ub also went 2-0, taking down hosts Cotai WOLFUNITED (MAC) 21-14 before rallying past Vienna (AUT) 21-19 in Pool A.

Shanghai (CHN) were the only other team to sweep their pool, while DeQing and Cotai thrilled fans with late-game heroics to book their places in the last eight. The Quarter-Finals are now set for Sunday, October 18, at the iconic Ruins of Saint Paul’s.

Miami roll

Miami opened their campaign with a convincing victory over DeQing, with Henry Caruso leading the way with eight points. They followed that up with a win over Ulaanbaatar MMC Energy, as Jimmer Fredette poured in eight points to help the Americans secure top spot in Pool C. The two victories send Miami into the Quarter-Finals with momentum as they chase another World Tour title. They will face home favorites Cotai WOLFUNITED in one of Sunday’s knockout matchups.

Ub rally

Top seeds Ub also advanced unbeaten, although they had to work harder for their second victory. The Serbians began with a solid win over Cotai, with Marko Brankovic leading the way with eight points. Their second game against Vienna proved a much tighter affair, as Ub rallied to claim a two-point victory.

Strahinja Stojacic scored eight points, combining with Brankovic for 16 of Ub’s 21 points as the Serbian powerhouse held off Vienna’s challenge. The win secured Ub’s place in the Quarter-Finals, where they will meet DeQing.

Shanghai sweep

Shanghai delivered one of the day’s strongest performances, beating Amsterdam RABOBANK (NED) 21-18 before completing their Pool B sweep with a 21-16 win over Hong Kong (HKG).

Cameron Forte was outstanding against Amsterdam, recording 14 points and 12 rebounds for a rare double-double, while also producing eight highlights. Shanghai’s second victory confirmed them as Pool B winners, with Amsterdam joining them in the Quarter-Finals after edging Hong Kong 19-17 earlier in the day. Maarten Bouwknecht led Amsterdam with five points in that contest.

Taipei WanBao’s impressive run

Taipei WanBao produced one of the day’s most impressive stories, battling through the Qualifying Draw before advancing to the Quarter-Finals.

They first defeated Doha (QAT) 19-13 and then edged Bordeaux (FRA) 20-18 in overtime to secure their Main Draw place. Wang Hsin-Wei delivered the decisive two-pointer in the extra period, sending Taipei through after a tense finish.

The momentum continued in Pool D. Taipei edged Baskets Bonn (GER) 11-10 before falling to Skyliners (GER) 18-21. Petar Ivanovic scored 13 points against Skyliners, with Ivanovic and Nikola Kovacevic combining for six two-pointers as Taipei claimed a crucial victory.

A three-way tie left Taipei, Skyliners and Baskets Bonn level on pool wins, but Taipei and Skyliners advanced on total points scored. Baskets Bonn, despite entering Macau among the top seeds, were eliminated. Taipei will now face Shanghai in the Quarter-Finals, while Skyliners take on Amsterdam RABOBANK.

Late-game drama

DeQing and Cotai WOLFUNITED both found their way into the knockout rounds with dramatic finishes. DeQing advanced from the Qualifying Draw with a 21-15 win over Warsaw (POL), led by Zhang Dianliang’s nine points. After losing to Miami in Pool C, DeQing stayed alive with a narrow 21-20 victory over Ulaanbaatar MMC Energy.

The finish was a thriller. Anand Ariunbold gave Ulaanbaatar a 20-19 lead in the final minute, but Guim Expósito answered with the game-winner to send DeQing into the Quarter-Finals.

Cotai also came through in the clutch. After losing to Ub, the home team faced Vienna needing a result and delivered a nail-biting victory, led by 12 points from Stanislav Sharov.

Shootout Contest

The Shootout Contest presented by Starmac also produced its four finalists on Day 1. Toni Blazan (VIE) led the qualifiers with eight points. He is joined by Maarten Bouwknecht (AMS), Lennart Schultz (BB) and Adam Waczynski (WAR) for Sunday’s Shootout Contest Final.

Quarter-Finals set for Sunday

QF1: Ub (SRB) vs. DeQing (CHN)
QF2: Skyliners (GER) vs. Amsterdam RABOBANK (NED)
QF3: Shanghai (CHN) vs. Taipei WanBao (TPE)
QF4: Miami (USA) vs. Cotai WOLFUNITED (MAC)

The knockout games, Shootout Contest Final, Dunk Contest and championship-deciding action take place on Sunday, as the remaining teams battle for the FIBA 3×3 World Tour Macau 2026 title.

Stay Connected

Follow all the latest action from the FIBA 3×3 World Tour throughout the 2026 season by visiting the official World Tour website, where you can find the latest news, team standings, player statistics and everything you need to follow the Race to the Final. 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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▲ Men’s 3×3 Basketball National Team

The South Korean men’s 3×3 basketball national team, led by head coach Bae Gil-tae, has advanced directly to the quarterfinals after finishing the group stage with a perfect 3-0 record at the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games.

South Korea defeated Singapore 19-14 in their final Group D match of the tournament held today (September 23) at the special court near Kinjofuto Station in Nagoya, Japan.

Having previously secured consecutive victories against Thailand (21-11 win) and Japan (21-12 win), South Korea triumphed over Singapore to claim their third straight win in the group stage, securing the ticket to the quarterfinals reserved for group leaders.

South Korea will face the winner of the match between Indonesia and China, who will advance through the play-in tournament, in the quarterfinals.

A total of 16 teams are competing in the men’s 3×3 basketball event at this tournament, which features players aged 23 and under (U-23).

The format dictates that each group winner advances directly to the quarterfinals, while the second and third-place teams play in a play-in tournament for the remaining quarterfinal tickets.

Since 3×3 basketball was adopted as an official event at the 2018 Jakarta-Palembang Games, South Korea is aiming for its first-ever gold medal at this tournament.

In particular, Lee Ju-young, Kim Seung-woo (both from Yonsei University), Lee Dong-geun (Korea University), and Gu Min-gyo (Sungkyunkwan University), who combined to finish as runners-up at the FIBA 3×3 Asia Cup in April of this year, are maintaining their teamwork, making them strong medal contenders.

They finished first overall at the FIBA 3×3 Youth Nations League Central and East Asia regional tournament last month to secure a spot in the U-23 World Cup, and after competing in the U-23 World Cup held in China from September 15 to 19 to solidly build their teamwork, they arrived in Nagoya.

In the match against Singapore, Lee Dong-geun spearheaded the attack with a team-high 7 points along with 3 rebounds and 2 blocks, while Lee Ju-young performed strongly with 5 points and 4 rebounds.

(Photo courtesy of the Korea Basketball Association, Yonhap News)

※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.

WUHAN (China) – Serbia men have completed a perfect pool phase at the FIBA 3×3 U23 World Cup 2026, going 4-0 in Pool A to secure their place in the Quarter-Finals and keep their pursuit of their first-ever U23 gold firmly on track.

Serbia opened their campaign with wins over Kazakhstan and Tonga on Day 1 before returning to action on Day 3 with victories over Germany and the Netherlands. They defeated Germany 21-13 before closing out Pool A with a 21-15 win over the Netherlands.

For Vuk Vukicevic, who was part of Serbia’s silver-medal team at last year’s U23 World Cup, the team’s success has come down to the connection between the four players.

“Chemistry is everything,” Vukicevic said. “Chemistry and mentality. This wins the World Cup.”

The Serbia star also pointed to the challenge of arriving in Wuhan just two days before the competition, with the team having to quickly adjust after their journey and continue preparing together.

“It was tough,” Vukicevic said after Serbia completed their pool sweep. “We just find the space, make more points, and that’s it.”

Vukicevic has been one of the key figures for Serbia throughout their campaign, but he was quick to shift the focus away from his individual contribution and toward the team.

“When you play for the Serbia flag, this is everything,” he said. “I just want to say thank you to my guys.”

Now, Serbia have their sights firmly set on the knockout rounds.

After falling to Lithuania in last year’s Final, Vukicevic knows exactly what his team wants to accomplish in Wuhan.

“We are focused to take this gold medal,” he said. “This is why we’re here… we will see what happens in the Quarter-Finals.”

Serbia will return to action on Day 5 for the knockout phase, with Vukicevic and his teammates now just two wins away from another U23 World Cup Final, and one step closer to the gold medal they came to Wuhan to chase.

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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WUHAN (China) – France have taken care of business in Women’s Pool A, completing a perfect 4-0 campaign to book their place in the Quarter-Finals of the FIBA 3×3 U23 World Cup 2026. At the center of their unbeaten run has been Eléna Zemoura, who has embraced the intensity of the U23 World Cup while keeping her focus firmly on the next game.

France opened their campaign with a dominant 21-4 victory over the Philippines before overcoming hosts China 21-16. They returned to action on Day 3 with wins over Italy and Egypt, beating Italy 21-9 before closing out the pool phase with a 16-10 victory over Egypt.

Zemoura contributed 14 points across France’s first two games and added another 13 points on Day 3. Against Italy, she scored seven points before producing six points, five rebounds and six highlights against Egypt. She currently leads the Women’s Tournament in total player value with 42.9.

For Zemoura, though, France’s success has been built on much more than individual performances.

“I think my team creates a lot of movement and puts big intensity, so we try to give our best every time,” she said. “We have a lot of fun, and we try to give everything every time, so that’s our identity.”

That identity was on full display against Italy, where France overcame difficult conditions after rain affected their warm-up before establishing themselves defensively.

“The warm-up was very special because of the rain,” Zemoura said. “But we started very good with a lot of intensity in defense, so I think that gave us a lot of confidence for the rest of the game.”

Zemoura describes herself as a “warrior” on the court, emphasizing the versatility she can bring to France.

“I give my life on the court,” she said. “I can shoot, I can drive, and I can post because I’m tall. So yeah, I try to do my best and always put a big defense because it’s our identity.”

France’s perfect pool phase also marks an important step for a team that reached the Final last year before falling to the Netherlands. Zemoura isn’t looking too far ahead, however.

“This year we just take game by game, step by step,” she said. “We did three steps, and we have the fourth one just after. So we don’t think about the future. We do step by step, and that’s it.”

The next step is now set. France will face Latvia in the Quarter-Finals on Day 5, and Zemoura will look to continue making a major impact on the floor.

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) – Spain men arrived at the FIBA 3×3 Europe Cup Crelan 2026 with a renewed squad and something to prove after a disappointing FIBA 3×3 World Cup 2026 campaign. On Day 1 in Antwerp, they delivered the perfect response: two wins, including victories over Italy and the Netherlands.

For Diego De Blas, however, the results were only part of the story.

“Both games were very challenging, and that’s exactly what we expected coming into the tournament,” De Blas said. “We did a great job defensively in both matchups, which was key to getting the wins.”

Spain’s defense provided the platform for a pair of significant results against two established 3×3 basketball programs. Rather than relying on individual brilliance, the team leaned on their collective approach. That’s an important sign for a group that have undergone a period of renewal. That chemistry, of course, has not happened by accident.

“We have been practicing for this event together. We all know each other well, which helps create strong chemistry on the court,” De Blas said.

That familiarity was evident on Day 1 as Spain handled two demanding games and remained composed when the margins tightened. Their approach is deliberately straightforward: take each game as it comes and maintain the same level of preparation and intensity.

“Our approach is simple,” De Blas explained. “Take it game by game, stay focused and be ready to compete at our highest level every time we step onto the court.”

There is also a deeper motivation behind Spain’s campaign. The team entered Antwerp after the disappointment of the FIBA 3×3 World Cup 2026 in Warsaw, where they were unable to defend the world title they won in 2025. For De Blas, that result provided motivation, but he explained that it was not a reason to abandon the process that brought Spain success in the first place.

“Of course it did,” he said when asked whether Warsaw provided extra motivation. “It’s always easier when everything is going your way, but the most important thing is to keep doing the same work regardless of the results.”

That mentality has seemingly carried into Antwerp. Spain’s new-look group have already shown they can compete with two of the tournament’s strongest teams, but De Blas is not looking beyond the next challenge. The objective remains to keep improving, stay committed to the process and bring their best game every time they step onto the court.

Day 1 could hardly have gone better. Now Spain have to prove it was only the beginning. They next face France in the Quarter-Finals.

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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