ANTWERP (Belgium) – Latvia (men) and the Netherlands (women) impress in pool play with perfect displays on Day 2 of the FIBA 3×3 Europe Cup Crelan 2026 on September 12. 

Teams

Latvia (men)

The reigning world champs have their sights set on an international double, and their pool phase performance showed they have what it takes to make it happen. 

They went toe-to-toe against Ireland in their opening game. While they had to stave off Ireland’s barrage from beyond the two-point line, Latvia emerged victorious 21 – 16. Kristaps Gluditis went on a scoring tear, putting up 11 points, including 4 two-pointers of his own to earn them the win.

Their second matchup in pool phase would be a rematch of the 2025 Europe Cup Final. They would take on current European champions Lithuania in a hotly contested battle. Though back-and-forth for most of the games proceedings, it was Latvia who held on at the end, sealing a 22 – 16 victory to finish pool phase with a 2-0 record. 

Serbia also managed to finish perfect in pool action with wins over Switzerland and Belgium to seal their knockout phase spot. Also joining them would be Belgium and Lithuania who earned their place into the final 16. 

Netherlands (women)

The reigning European winners showcased just what they do best in pool phase – win. The Dutch, arguably one of the most on-form sides in 3×3, came out swinging on Day 2, earning two dominant wins to seal their quarter-final spot. 

Their opener was a marquee matchup against Azerbaijan which saw the Dutch showcase their surgical selves, grinding down their opposition while sticking to their offensive gameplan to come away with a 21 – 12 win. Noortje Driessen stole the spotlight with her historic performance. She put up 13 points, tying the single-game record for most points scored by a women’s player in Europe Cup history. 

It was a similar tale in their second game of the day against Ukraine. It was yet another physical battle and once again, the Netherlands got the job done with a 19 – 14 victory. Noortje Driessen and Ilse Kuijt both put up 8 points to lead the way for the Dutch.  

Azerbaijan, France and Czechia also earned their spot into the knockout rounds on the day. 

Players

Kristaps Gluditis (Men)

When Latvia needed buckets, Kristaps Gluditis answered the call every single time.

He put up double digit points in their opener, an 11-point game in their win against Ireland before following it up with a team-high 9 points in a huge win over Lithuania. His efficient scoring from both inside and outside made him an unstoppable force for Latvia on the day and a crucial piece in their bid for the European title in Antwerp.

Noortje Driessen (Women)

It was a day to remember for Noortje Driessen who put up historic numbers for the Dutch in their perfect pool run. 

In their opening tie against a contending Azerbaijan, Driessen put up 13 points, a single-game record for most points scored by a women’s player in Europe Cup history. She chipped in with another joint-high 8 points in their 19 – 14 win against Ukraine, showing just why she’s 3×3’s premier star. 

Her hot start in Antwerp bodes well for the Dutch as they get set to defend their title in the knockout phase tomorrow. 

Quarter-Finals Matchups

Men’s 

QF1: Serbia v Lithuania
QF2: Germany v Netherlands
QF3: Spain v France
QF4: Latvia v Belgium

Women’s

QF1: Netherlands v Czechia
QF2: Germany v Slovenia 
QF3: Spain v Belgium
QF4: France v Azerbaijan

Day 3

The European crown will be earned tomorrow as we dive into knockout action. Don’t miss the action, tune in LIVE through the FIBA 3×3 YouTube channel.

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

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