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.

FIBA

Published April 12, 2026 12:17am

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The Gilas Pilipinas 3×3 Women’s team booked a slot in the knockout phase of the FIBA 3×3 World Cup Qualifier on Saturday in Singapore.

The Philippines, composed of Kacey dela Rosa, Mikka Cacho, Afril Bernardino, and Tantoy Ferrer, opened the tournament with a 13-16 loss to Brazil before escaping Singapore with a 21-19 victory.

After posting a 1-1 record, the Philippines needed to wait for the result of the Singapore vs. Brazil match, which went in favor of the host country, 15-13, in overtime.

With the said result, Gilas Pilipinas 3×3 set up a date against Lithuania in the semifinals. A win against Lithuania will put them through to the finals and assure Gilas Pilipinas a slot in the FIBA 3×3 World Cup. A loss, however, will put them in a battle for third, with the winner advancing to the World Cup.

Gilas and Lithuania will face off on Sunday at 6:25 p.m.

—JKC, GMA News