World number one Team Ub from Serbia won the FIBA 3×3 World Tour Macau 2026 after defeating Shanghai 21-15 in the final at the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Ruins of St. Paul’s on Sunday, with Ub’s Marko Branković named Most Valuable Player (MVP).

FIBA stands for International Basketball Federation.

The tournament concluded after bringing together 16 international teams to compete for a share of the US$185,000 (1.5 million patacas) prize pool.

In the quarter-finals, Ub defeated the nation’s DeQing, Germany’s Skyliners beat the Netherlands’ Amsterdam RABOBANK, while Shanghai overcame China’s Taiwan region’s Taipei WanBao, and Miami defeated Macau’s Cotai WolfUnited.

Ub then beat Skyliners 21-15 in the semi-finals, while Shanghai edged Miami 21-18 to reach the final. Shanghai took an early lead in the championship match, but Ub adjusted their game and connected on a series of outside shots to secure a 21-15 victory.

According to a statement by the Sports Bureau (ID), the competition also featured a shoot-out contest and a dunk contest. Toni Blazan of Austria’s Team Vienna won the shoot-out, while Poland’s Piotr Grabowski claimed the dunk contest title, the statement said.

The tournament was authorised by the federation, organised by the Sports Bureau and StarMac Entertainment Production Limited, co-organised by the Macau-China Basketball Association and Chaiioi Sports Company Limited, and supported by the Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO).

The organisers also partnered with nearly 20 businesses in the Ruins of St. Paul’s neighbourhood to put on basketball-themed activities and event-exclusive spending promotions, the statement said, adding that this kind of initiative aims to attract spectators to local shops and restaurants while supporting the integration of sports, tourism and cultural experiences.

The organisers said the event helped generate foot traffic and spending in the surrounding district while promoting Macau as a sports tourism destination, the statement said. 

This handout photo provided by the Sports Bureau (ID) on Sunday shows Serbia’s Ub players posing with ID President Deland Leong Wai Man (third from left) and StarMac Entertainment Production Limited CEO Rio Lou Kit Long (third from right) for a group photo after winning the FIBA 3×3 World Tour Macau 2026 at the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Ruins of St. Paul’s landmark.

Players from Team Ub and Shanghai face off during Sunday’s 3×3 final. – Photo: Khalel Vallo

World number one Team Ub from Serbia won the FIBA 3×3 World Tour Macau 2026 after defeating Shanghai 21-15 in the final at the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Ruins of St. Paul’s on Sunday, with Ub’s Marko Branković named Most Valuable Player (MVP).

FIBA stands for International Basketball Federation.

The tournament concluded after bringing together 16 international teams to compete for a share of the US$185,000 (1.5 million patacas) prize pool.

In the quarter-finals, Ub defeated the nation’s DeQing, Germany’s Skyliners beat the Netherlands’ Amsterdam RABOBANK, while Shanghai overcame China’s Taiwan region’s Taipei WanBao, and Miami defeated Macau’s Cotai WolfUnited.

Ub then beat Skyliners 21-15 in the semi-finals, while Shanghai edged Miami 21-18 to reach the final. Shanghai took an early lead in the championship match, but Ub adjusted their game and connected on a series of outside shots to secure a 21-15 victory.

According to a statement by the Sports Bureau (ID), the competition also featured a shoot-out contest and a dunk contest. Toni Blazan of Austria’s Team Vienna won the shoot-out, while Poland’s Piotr Grabowski claimed the dunk contest title, the statement said.

The tournament was authorised by the federation, organised by the Sports Bureau and StarMac Entertainment Production Limited, co-organised by the Macau-China Basketball Association and Chaiioi Sports Company Limited, and supported by the Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO).

The organisers also partnered with nearly 20 businesses in the Ruins of St. Paul’s neighbourhood to put on basketball-themed activities and event-exclusive spending promotions, the statement said, adding that this kind of initiative aims to attract spectators to local shops and restaurants while supporting the integration of sports, tourism and cultural experiences.

The organisers said the event helped generate foot traffic and spending in the surrounding district while promoting Macau as a sports tourism destination, the statement said. 

This handout photo provided by the Sports Bureau (ID) on Sunday shows Serbia’s Ub players posing with ID President Deland Leong Wai Man (third from left) and StarMac Entertainment Production Limited CEO Rio Lou Kit Long (third from right) for a group photo after winning the FIBA 3×3 World Tour Macau 2026 at the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Ruins of St. Paul’s landmark.

Players from Team Ub and Shanghai face off during Sunday’s 3×3 final. – Photo: Khalel Vallo

The “FIBA 3×3 World Tour Macau 2026” and the “3×3 Greater Bay Area Tour 2026 Finals Macao” will be held this Saturday through next Wednesday, bringing international and regional basketball teams to the city, the Sports Bureau (ID) announced during a press conference at its headquarters in Zape yesterday.

FIBA stands for International Basketball Federation, which is based in Mies, Switzerland, near Geneva. 

The FIBA 3×3 World Tour Macau 2026 will take place this weekend at the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Ruins of St. Paul’s, featuring 16 teams competing for the championship and a total prize purse of up to US$185,000 (1.48 million patacas).

The line-up includes teams Ub (Serbia), Amsterdam RABOBANK (the Netherlands), Shanghai, and Macau’s Cotai WOLFUNITED.

The qualification stage will begin at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, followed by group matches at 2:30 p.m. On Sunday, the quarter-finals will start at 3:00 p.m., with the semi-finals and final scheduled for 6:00 p.m.

Meanwhile, the 3×3 Greater Bay Area Tour 2026 Finals Macao will follow next Monday to Wednesday, bringing together the top three teams from each leg or qualifier held in Foshan, Zhaoqing, Shenzhen, Hengqin and Macau, alongside additional men’s and women’s teams entering through open registration. According to a statement by the bureau, the competition will present prizes and awards worth more than 700,000 patacas.

Women’s matches will be held next Monday and Tuesday, while the men’s competition will run next Tuesday and Wednesday, the statement said, noting that group matches will take place simultaneously at the Ruins of St. Paul’s and Tap Seac Multisport Pavilion, with the knockout rounds and finals held at the former venue.

At yesterday’s press conference, StarMac Entertainment Production Limited CEO Rio Lou Kit Long said that the events would connect professional international competition, Greater Bay Area (GBA) sporting exchanges and youth development.

He also highlighted plans to work with nearly 20 local restaurants, cultural and creative businesses, and other local brands around the Ruins of St. Paul’s, presenting basketball-themed activities and event-related promotions to encourage spectators to explore the surrounding business district.

Meanwhile, Sports Bureau Head of the Macau Grand Prix and Major Sporting Events Department Vong Ka Kun said that the competitions would promote international and GBA cultural and sporting exchanges while supporting the development of sports tourism.

The events are organised by the bureau and StarMac Entertainment Production Limited, with the Macau-China Basketball Association and Chaiioi Sports Company Limited as co-organisers. The organisers said the programme would combine elite competition with community engagement and opportunities to promote local culture. 

StarMac Entertainment Production Limited CEO Rio Lou Kit Long addresses yesterday’s “FIBA 3×3 World Tour Macau 2026” and the “3×3 Greater Bay Area Tour 2026 Finals Macao” press conference at the Sports Bureau (ID) headquarters in Zape. –  Photo: Khalel Vallo

The “FIBA 3×3 World Tour Macau 2026” and the “3×3 Greater Bay Area Tour 2026 Finals Macao” will be held this Saturday through next Wednesday, bringing international and regional basketball teams to the city, the Sports Bureau (ID) announced during a press conference at its headquarters in Zape yesterday.

FIBA stands for International Basketball Federation, which is based in Mies, Switzerland, near Geneva. 

The FIBA 3×3 World Tour Macau 2026 will take place this weekend at the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Ruins of St. Paul’s, featuring 16 teams competing for the championship and a total prize purse of up to US$185,000 (1.48 million patacas).

The line-up includes teams Ub (Serbia), Amsterdam RABOBANK (the Netherlands), Shanghai, and Macau’s Cotai WOLFUNITED.

The qualification stage will begin at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, followed by group matches at 2:30 p.m. On Sunday, the quarter-finals will start at 3:00 p.m., with the semi-finals and final scheduled for 6:00 p.m.

Meanwhile, the 3×3 Greater Bay Area Tour 2026 Finals Macao will follow next Monday to Wednesday, bringing together the top three teams from each leg or qualifier held in Foshan, Zhaoqing, Shenzhen, Hengqin and Macau, alongside additional men’s and women’s teams entering through open registration. According to a statement by the bureau, the competition will present prizes and awards worth more than 700,000 patacas.

Women’s matches will be held next Monday and Tuesday, while the men’s competition will run next Tuesday and Wednesday, the statement said, noting that group matches will take place simultaneously at the Ruins of St. Paul’s and Tap Seac Multisport Pavilion, with the knockout rounds and finals held at the former venue.

At yesterday’s press conference, StarMac Entertainment Production Limited CEO Rio Lou Kit Long said that the events would connect professional international competition, Greater Bay Area (GBA) sporting exchanges and youth development.

He also highlighted plans to work with nearly 20 local restaurants, cultural and creative businesses, and other local brands around the Ruins of St. Paul’s, presenting basketball-themed activities and event-related promotions to encourage spectators to explore the surrounding business district.

Meanwhile, Sports Bureau Head of the Macau Grand Prix and Major Sporting Events Department Vong Ka Kun said that the competitions would promote international and GBA cultural and sporting exchanges while supporting the development of sports tourism.

The events are organised by the bureau and StarMac Entertainment Production Limited, with the Macau-China Basketball Association and Chaiioi Sports Company Limited as co-organisers. The organisers said the programme would combine elite competition with community engagement and opportunities to promote local culture. 

StarMac Entertainment Production Limited CEO Rio Lou Kit Long addresses yesterday’s “FIBA 3×3 World Tour Macau 2026” and the “3×3 Greater Bay Area Tour 2026 Finals Macao” press conference at the Sports Bureau (ID) headquarters in Zape. –  Photo: Khalel Vallo

(AP) — Jimmer Fredette has decided to resume his playing career, a decision that means he is stepping down as the managing director of USA Basketball’s men’s 3×3 program and will return to the court for the first time in more than two years.

Fredette and USA Basketball made the announcement Tuesday. The 37-year-old Fredette, who held the managing director job for about 18 months and intended to guide the program through at least the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, is expected to play this weekend in a FIBA 3×3 tournament in Phoenix.

Fredette said he’s all-in on his comeback, which would indicate that playing in those 2028 Olympics is in his plans.

MORE: Jersey retirement ‘hard to put into words’ for BYU great Jimmer Fredette

“It was somewhere between three and four months ago when I really started to kind of think about it,” Fredette told The Associated Press in a telephone interview. “I had no inclination to come back. I felt great being home. It was awesome. I had the kids, the family, everything’s going great, enjoying my time as a full-time dad and coach and doing my other things, and it was good. And then over the last few months, I just kind of had playing creep into my mind.”

Fredette retired from playing — or so he thought — in April 2025. That was nine months after he entered the Paris Olympics as the top-ranked 3×3 men’s player in the world, leading a U.S. team that figured to be a serious medal contender.

But the native of Glens Falls, New York, suffered an adductor muscle injury early in the tournament and the U.S. by rule could not replace him on its four-man roster for the Paris Games, so the Americans had to play the rest of the Olympics with three players and no substitutes. The U.S. lost five of its seven games in Paris and finished seventh.

“I won’t lie to you and say that there’s not a little bit of a feeling of unfinished business,” Fredette said. “But I think generally it’s more of me thinking I can still play. There’s a lot of time between now and the Olympics. And so, that’s not even something that I’m actually focusing on at this point. It’s more of I just want to go back out into a tournament, one tournament, and just see how I play and see how I feel and then go to the next tournament and see if I can get back to the form to where I was.

“There’s a lot of things that can happen before now and the Olympics. I’m not saying that me coming back is going to be a fairytale ending because you absolutely never know — and most of the time in sports, it’s not that way. This is more about me just being able to compete again because I feel like I can, and I feel like if I don’t at least give myself that opportunity then I’ll have some regrets.”

The U.S., as the Olympic host, is already qualified for the 2028 Games.

Fredette was the 2011 AP men’s college basketball player of the year after averaging a nation-leading 28.9 points per game as a senior at BYU, became an NBA lottery pick, spent parts of six seasons in the NBA, played internationally in Europe and Asia and twice scored at least 70 points in games while in China.

He then got talked into trying 3×3, went to the Olympics, and now might be headed there again.

Fredette had the conversation with his wife, Whitney, a few months ago when he thought about playing. She told him that she had been waiting for such a talk — and that she always suspected he would go back.

“Once I got her approval and support, then I felt good about it,” Fredette said. “That’s when I felt like I can go all in on this again and try to be able to come back. And now, we’ll see what happens.”

He insists it was not an easy decision to leave his job at USA Basketball and didn’t want to put the national federation in a tough spot. USA Basketball officials ultimately assured him that if he wanted to play, he should.

“USA Basketball is grateful for the extensive time Jimmer gave to our 3×3 men’s program as Managing Director,” said Jay Demings, USA Basketball 3×3 national team director. “We are excited to have Jimmer return as a player on Team Miami, a team he is a founding member of, at the FIBA 3×3 Phoenix Challenger.”

Fredette’s spot in the federation office is not being filled immediately. USA Basketball’s board of directors has asked the federation’s 3×3 National Team Committee to “fill the role of identifying coaching staffs and players for major international competitions at the senior and junior levels through 2028.”

___

See AP’s full NBA coverage here

Jimmer Fredette has decided to resume his playing career, a decision that means he is stepping down as the managing director of USA Basketball’s men’s 3×3 program and will return to the court for the first time in more than two years.

Fredette and USA Basketball made the announcement Tuesday. Fredette, who held the managing director job for about 18 months and intended to guide the program through at least the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, is expected to play this weekend in a FIBA 3×3 tournament in Phoenix.

Fredette said he’s all-in on his comeback, which would indicate that playing in those 2028 Olympics is in his plans.

“It was somewhere between three and four months ago when I really started to kind of think about it,” Fredette told The Associated Press in a telephone interview. “I had no inclination to come back. I felt great being home. It was awesome. I had the kids, the family, everything’s going great, enjoying my time as a full-time dad and coach and doing my other things, and it was good. And then over the last few months, I just kind of had playing creep into my mind.”

Fredette retired from playing — or so he thought — in April 2025. That was nine months after he entered the Paris Olympics as the top-ranked 3×3 men’s player in the world, leading a U.S. team that figured to be a serious medal contender.

But the native of Glens Falls, New York, suffered an adductor muscle injury early in the tournament and the U.S. by rule could not replace him on its four-man roster for the Paris Games, so the Americans had to play the rest of the Olympics with three players and no substitutes. The U.S. lost five of its seven games in Paris and finished seventh.

“I won’t lie to you and say that there’s not a little bit of a feeling of unfinished business,” Fredette said. “But I think generally it’s more of me thinking I can still play. There’s a lot of time between now and the Olympics. And so, that’s not even something that I’m actually focusing on at this point. It’s more of I just want to go back out into a tournament, one tournament, and just see how I play and see how I feel and then go to the next tournament and see if I can get back to the form to where I was.

“There’s a lot of things that can happen before now and the Olympics. I’m not saying that me coming back is going to be a fairytale ending because you absolutely never know — and most of the time in sports, it’s not that way. This is more about me just being able to compete again because I feel like I can, and I feel like if I don’t at least give myself that opportunity then I’ll have some regrets.”

The U.S., as the Olympic host, is already qualified for the 2028 Games.

Fredette was the 2011 AP men’s college basketball player of the year after averaging a nation-leading 28.9 points per game as a senior at BYU, became an NBA lottery pick, spent parts of six seasons in the NBA, played internationally in Europe and Asia and twice scored at least 70 points in games while in China.

He then got talked into trying 3×3, went to the Olympics, and now might be headed there again.

Fredette had the conversation with his wife, Whitney, a few months ago when he thought about playing. She told him that she had been waiting for such a talk — and that she always suspected he would go back.

“Once I got her approval and support, then I felt good about it,” Fredette said. “That’s when I felt like I can go all in on this again and try to be able to come back. And now, we’ll see what happens.”

He insists it was not an easy decision to leave his job at USA Basketball and didn’t want to put the national federation in a tough spot. USA Basketball officials ultimately assured him that if he wanted to play, he should.

“USA Basketball is grateful for the extensive time Jimmer gave to our 3×3 men’s program as Managing Director,” said Jay Demings, USA Basketball 3×3 national team director. “We are excited to have Jimmer return as a player on Team Miami, a team he is a founding member of, at the FIBA 3×3 Phoenix Challenger.”

Fredette’s spot in the federation office is not being filled immediately. USA Basketball’s board of directors has asked the federation’s 3×3 National Team Committee to “fill the role of identifying coaching staffs and players for major international competitions at the senior and junior levels through 2028.”

See AP’s full NBA coverage here

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Jimmer Fredette has decided to resume his playing career, a decision that means he is stepping down as the managing director of USA Basketball’s men’s 3×3 program and will return to the court for the first time in more than two years.

Fredette and USA Basketball made the announcement Tuesday. The 37-year-old Fredette, who held the managing director job for about 18 months and intended to guide the program through at least the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, is expected to play this weekend in a FIBA 3×3 tournament in Phoenix.

Fredette said he’s all-in on his comeback, which would indicate that playing in those 2028 Olympics is in his plans.

“It was somewhere between three and four months ago when I really started to kind of think about it,” Fredette told The Associated Press in a telephone interview. “I had no inclination to come back. I felt great being home. It was awesome. I had the kids, the family, everything’s going great, enjoying my time as a full-time dad and coach and doing my other things, and it was good. And then over the last few months, I just kind of had playing creep into my mind.”

Fredette retired from playing — or so he thought — in April 2025. That was nine months after he entered the Paris Olympics as the top-ranked 3×3 men’s player in the world, leading a U.S. team that figured to be a serious medal contender.

But the native of Glens Falls, New York, suffered an adductor muscle injury early in the tournament and the U.S. by rule could not replace him on its four-man roster for the Paris Games, so the Americans had to play the rest of the Olympics with three players and no substitutes. The U.S. lost five of its seven games in Paris and finished seventh.

“I won’t lie to you and say that there’s not a little bit of a feeling of unfinished business,” Fredette said. “But I think generally it’s more of me thinking I can still play. There’s a lot of time between now and the Olympics. And so, that’s not even something that I’m actually focusing on at this point. It’s more of I just want to go back out into a tournament, one tournament, and just see how I play and see how I feel and then go to the next tournament and see if I can get back to the form to where I was.

“There’s a lot of things that can happen before now and the Olympics. I’m not saying that me coming back is going to be a fairytale ending because you absolutely never know — and most of the time in sports, it’s not that way. This is more about me just being able to compete again because I feel like I can, and I feel like if I don’t at least give myself that opportunity then I’ll have some regrets.”

The U.S., as the Olympic host, is already qualified for the 2028 Games.

Fredette was the 2011 AP men’s college basketball player of the year after averaging a nation-leading 28.9 points per game as a senior at BYU, became an NBA lottery pick, spent parts of six seasons in the NBA, played internationally in Europe and Asia and twice scored at least 70 points in games while in China.

He then got talked into trying 3×3, went to the Olympics, and now might be headed there again.

Fredette had the conversation with his wife, Whitney, a few months ago when he thought about playing. She told him that she had been waiting for such a talk — and that she always suspected he would go back.

“Once I got her approval and support, then I felt good about it,” Fredette said. “That’s when I felt like I can go all in on this again and try to be able to come back. And now, we’ll see what happens.”

He insists it was not an easy decision to leave his job at USA Basketball and didn’t want to put the national federation in a tough spot. USA Basketball officials ultimately assured him that if he wanted to play, he should.

“USA Basketball is grateful for the extensive time Jimmer gave to our 3×3 men’s program as Managing Director,” said Jay Demings, USA Basketball 3×3 national team director. “We are excited to have Jimmer return as a player on Team Miami, a team he is a founding member of, at the FIBA 3×3 Phoenix Challenger.”

Fredette’s spot in the federation office is not being filled immediately. USA Basketball’s board of directors has asked the federation’s 3×3 National Team Committee to “fill the role of identifying coaching staffs and players for major international competitions at the senior and junior levels through 2028.”