NAGOYA – While there were several fine individual performances from Team Singapore’s athletes at the 2026 Asian Games, the Republic’s team sports have continued to draw a blank at the continental meet.

Only water polo has delivered team sport medals for Singapore at the Asiad since the inaugural 1951 edition. But since their last medal – a men’s team bronze in 1986 – no team from the Republic have stood on an Asian Games podium.

At a press conference on Oct 4 to review Team Singapore’s Aichi-Nagoya campaign, High Performance Sport Institute chief Low Jia Ren acknowledged the challenges faced, adding that the sports authorities are looking at how to narrow the gap for team sports at future Asiads.

Having formerly captained the men’s national basketball team, the 47-year-old is aware of the differences between the nature of individual and team sports.

Noting team sports’ need for a bigger talent pool, he said: “When you are racing or shooting, this is something you can control (on your own).

“In team sports, there are opponents opposite you, there are teammates alongside you, and you need everyone in the team, whether it’s three or four in 3×3 basketball, or more in rugby sevens and water polo. Everything needs to click at the same time to win at the Asian level, and it’s difficult.”

At the Aichi-Nagoya Games, most of Singapore’s team sports did not have a good outing.

The water polo teams, who were aiming to improve on their encouraging performances at the previous Asiad and inch closer to the podium, were overtaken by more rivals instead.

The men’s team, which have contributed one gold, three silvers and three bronzes in past Games, slipped from fifth to seventh out of eight nations, while the women’s team slid from fourth out of seven countries to last out of six.

Other team sports Singapore competed in include field hockey (women’s team finished 10th out of 12), rugby sevens (women’s and men’s teams respectively placed seventh out of eight and 11th out of 12) and softball (women’s team finished seventh out of eight).

There were glimpses of hope, however, in 3×3 basketball.

Despite a 20-16 loss to last edition’s bronze medallists Mongolia during the play-ins for the quarter-finals, the men’s team gave South Korea their biggest test in a 19-14 pool defeat – the most the eventual champions conceded.

The women’s team went one step further to reach the last eight before losing to eventual runners-up Philippines.

Low noted that unlike the continental powerhouses, Singapore lack professional leagues in many team sports which would provide opportunities for these athletes to pursue their sport full-time and create an environment for them to reach a higher level.

However, studies are being conducted to see what can be adapted for the Singapore context to bring about more improvement.

Citing 3×3 basketball, where Singapore teams are supported on the FIBA 3×3 circuit, he said: “What made the difference was that they came together, trained at a full-time level, went overseas and competed regularly.

“Almost every weekend, they had competitions against the best in the world, and then worked on what it takes to be competitive.”

While the 3×3 basketballers have the opportunity to train full-time and play regularly in global tournaments, most of the other team sports have at best ad-hoc training and competition tours to prepare for major meets and a handful of players attached to foreign clubs.

Low added: “We need to now study this across all team sports because for every team sport, their environment and leagues are different. If what it takes is a full-time and competitive environment, whether locally or overseas, we need to start to move towards that.”

SINGAPORE – The difference in mood could not be starker as the Singapore women’s 3×3 team hung their heads as they received an honest review from national 3×3 head coach Lazar Rasic and his assistant Mario Stefanovic, while their Philippine counterparts celebrated with wefies with fans at The Kallang’s OCBC Square on April 12.

At the Fiba 3×3 World Cup Qualifier, the hosts had two chances to progress to the June 1-7 World Cup in Poland, but squandered both with losses to world No. 13 Hungary (21-13) and 18th-ranked Philippines (21-10).

A profusely sweating Rasic could not hide his disappointment. The Serb said: “I strongly believe if we came out strongly like we did yesterday, we would be in the World Cup. Today, I don’t think our energy was at the highest level.

“It’s tough. When we won games like we did against Brazil and then play like an empty balloon the next day, I can only understand that they are young and don’t have experience.”

The 20th-ranked quartet of Matilda Lai, Han Xing Yue, Lydia Ang and Jermaine Lim had rebounded from 3-10 down in their must-win Pool B match on April 11 to record a historic victory by beating 62nd-ranked Brazil 15-13 in overtime to advance to Round 2 of the qualifiers.

In an earlier pool game that day, they had mounted a similar comeback to draw level at 19-19 against the Philippines before losing 21-19.

While they had made eight two-pointers in both games on April 11, they managed just three in two matches on April 12.

Against Hungary, they led 8-7 after five minutes but foul trouble – the Republic committed six fouls within the first 2½ minutes and were penalised by two free throws from the seventh foul – gave the European team the upper hand.

Poor handling, shooting and execution let them down in the next match against the Filipinas, who qualified for their first World Cup outside of hosting the 2018 edition.

At the World Cup Qualifier, the top two teams from two pools progress to Round 2, where the top team from each pool play the second-placed team from the other pool, with the winners advancing to the World Cup. The losing teams from Round 2 will play each other in Round 3, with the winners also earning a World Cup ticket.

In the women’s qualifiers, Lithuania progressed alongside the Philippines, whom they beat in Round 2, and Hungary.

In the men’s competition, Singapore’s world No. 30 men’s team, missing key player Liam Blakney, who has just enlisted for national service, could not advance to the next round after losing their pool games against 18th-ranked Czech Republic (20-10) and 48th-ranked Brazil (19-11) on April 11.

In Round 2 on April 12, world No. 22 and Asia Cup champions New Zealand edged out Brazil 19-17 in overtime to qualify for the World Cup, joining the Czechs, who came from behind to beat 23rd-ranked Italy 20-16.

Brazil then beat Italy 21-13 in Round 3 to complete the 20-team roster.

While both Singapore teams missed the flight to Poland, the Republic will still make their World Cup debut at the next edition, which they will host in June 2027, and will hope to have learnt from their 2026 experience.

Han, who scored the winner against Brazil, acknowledged the need to improve with a stronger defence and fewer turnovers. She said: “We didn’t follow the game plan towards the end. We need to keep fighting and reminding each other of the game plan.

“We are disappointed because we worked so hard to get here and our lack of focus cost us a place at the World Cup.

“But this was an eye-opener to play different teams from all over the world who we don’t usually get to play against, so this is a good learning experience for us.”

In 3×3, which is played on a half-court, every made basket inside the arc is worth one point and every successful shot beyond the perimeter earns two. The first team to score 21 points, or the side with more points at the end of the single 10-minute period, win. If there is a tie, the first team to score two points in overtime win.

Although Singapore have made some progress since the authorities started investing more resources into 3×3 basketball in recent years, Rasic demanded more from his players as they prepare for the April 22-30 Asian Beach Games, July 23-Aug 2 Commonwealth Games and possibly the Sept 19-Oct 4 Asian Games.

The 38-year-old said: “History was made yesterday and they may be influenced by what they see on social media and think that the job is already done.

“I warned them we still have not qualified and we need to come out hungry today in order to go to the World Cup.

“We are still babies in this sport, so every win is a huge thing, and sometimes it’s very hard to maintain all this glory overnight. We need to move on and work harder.”

SINGAPORE – The Republic’s Fiba 3×3 World Cup dream continues as Singapore’s world No. 20 women’s team rebounded from 3-10 down in their must-win Pool B match on April 11 to record a historic victory by beating 62nd-ranked Brazil 15-13 in overtime at The Kallang’s OCBC Square.

Han Xing Yue, who sank the winning two-pointer after teammate Jermaine Lim had forced overtime with a two-pointer with just eight seconds of regulation time left in the 10-minute match, said: “This win means a lot.”

“We played a good first game but not good enough to beat the Philippines. Against Brazil, we trusted the game plan and went for every bounce and managed to win the game. I’m very proud of my teammates; no one gave up. We just continued fighting, even though we were losing. We trusted each other.”

In 3×3, which is played on a half-court, every made basket inside the arc is worth one point and every successful shot beyond the perimeter earns two. The first team to score 21 points, or the side with more points at the end of the single 10-minute period, win. If there is a tie, the first team to score two points in overtime win.

Earlier in the day, the Fiba 3×3 World Cup Qualifier debutantes also made a slow start to trail world No. 18 Philippines 3-10 but came back strongly to level the scores at 19-19 and came to within one basket of stunning the Fiba 3×3 Asia Cup silver medallists who eventually won 21-19.

Despite Brazil’s earlier 16-13 win over the Filipinas, the two South-east Asian teams advanced by virtue of points scored. Round 2 takes place on April 12 at the same venue.

Pool B runners-up Singapore will next play Pool A winners and world No. 13 Hungary, while the Pool B winners Philippines will face Pool A runners-up and world No. 22 Lithuania, with the winners advancing to the June 1-7 World Cup in Warsaw, Poland.

The losing teams from Round 2 will play each other in Round 3, with the winners also qualifying for the World Cup, which features 20 teams each for the men’s and women’s competitions.

After masterminding the women’s team’s first quarter-final appearance at the Fiba 3×3 Asia Cup a week earlier, Singapore’s national 3×3 head coach Lazar Rasic added: “We had some problems with opening the game, but we are working on that. It probably is a little bit of nervousness due to the importance of the competitions.

“But I’m happy because we are showing the character that we are not giving up until the very end of the game… this is a big win for us.”

However, Singapore’s world No. 30 men’s team, who were missing key player Liam Blakney who has just enlisted for national service, could not make it to the next round of the World Cup Qualifier after losing their Pool A matches against 18th-ranked Czech Republic (20-10) and Brazil 19-11. The 48th-ranked Brazilians beat the Czechs 22-15 to top the group.

In Round 2, Brazil will go on to play Fiba 3×3 Asia Cup champions and Pool B runners-up New Zealand, who are 22nd in the world ranking, while Czech Republic take on Pool B winners and 23rd-ranked Italy.

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)

SINGAPORE – Hungary, Lithuania and the Philippines in the women’s competition, along with New Zealand, Czechia and Brazil in the men’s draw, secured the final tickets to the FIBA 3×3 World Cup 2026 in Warsaw, Poland after an action-packed finale at the FIBA 3×3 World Cup Qualifier 2026 at The Kallang.

With everything on the line, Day 2 delivered clutch performances, dramatic finishes and standout displays as teams battled through the qualification rounds for a place on the global stage.

Men: New Zealand shine, Czechia and Brazil complete the lineup

New Zealand confirmed their place at the FIBA 3×3 World Cup 2026 after a thrilling 19-17 overtime win over Brazil, with Te Tuhi Lewis and Chris Martin displaying their stellar tournament form.

The dynamic Tall Blacks were instrumental throughout the tournament, providing scoring bursts and leadership as New Zealand navigated high-pressure moments. In the decisive game, they showed composure late before sealing the win with a clutch two-pointer in overtime.

Czechia also punched their ticket with an impressive 20-16 comeback victory over Italy. After trailing midway, they produced a strong finishing run, with Filip Novotny leading the charge with 11 points to power them to qualification.

Brazil secured the final men’s spot with a dominant 21-13 win over Italy in the last-chance game. After a tightly contested start, Brazil found their rhythm offensively and pulled away to clinch their place in Warsaw.

Women: Hungary dominate, Lithuania and Philippines follow

Hungary were the standout team of the tournament, completing a perfect run with a commanding 21-13 victory over hosts Singapore to secure qualification.

At the heart of their success was Vivi Böröndy, who delivered another dominant performance with 13 points in the qualification game. Across the tournament, she consistently stepped up in key moments, combining scoring efficiency with physical presence to lead Hungary from start to finish.

Lithuania joined them at the FIBA 3×3 World Cup after a composed 21-16 win over the Philippines. Kamile Nacickaite-Van der Horst led the way with 11 points, controlling the tempo and hitting crucial shots to keep Lithuania in front.

The Philippines claimed the final women’s ticket in emphatic fashion, defeating Singapore 21-10 in the decisive game. Kacey De la Rosa starred once again with 11 points, capping off a strong tournament as the Philippines secured their place in Warsaw.

Officially qualified for the FIBA 3×3 World Cup 2026

With the final six teams now confirmed, the lineup for the FIBA 3×3 World Cup 2026 in Warsaw, Poland (June 1-7) is complete.

Women: Netherlands, Spain, China, France, Canada, Germany, USA, Poland, Czechia, Mongolia, Italy, Japan, Ukraine, Latvia, Australia, Azerbaijan, Madagascar, Hungary, Lithuania, Philippines.

Men: Serbia, USA, Netherlands, Lithuania, France, Germany, Latvia, Austria, Spain, Mongolia, China, Belgium, Puerto Rico, Japan, Poland, Australia, Madagascar, New Zealand, Czechia, Brazil.

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About FIBA 3×3

Exciting, urban and innovative, 3×3 is inspired by several forms of streetball played worldwide and is considered the world’s number one urban team sport. Steered by FIBA, games see two teams of three players face off on a basketball half-court.

It was played successfully for the first time in international competition at the 2010 Youth Olympic Games in Singapore and since then has benefited from the launch of a yearly professional circuit for men and women (World Tour and Women’s Series respectively) and national-team competitions. 3×3 made its Olympic debut at the Tokyo 2020 Games.

FIBA 3×3 World Cup

The FIBA 3×3 World Cup is the flagship national team competition in the discipline. Nations
from every continent compete on a global stage for the sport’s most prestigious title,
contributing directly to Olympic qualification and showcasing the world’s best 3×3 basketball.

For further information about 3×3, visit fiba3x3.basketball, FIBA 3×3 accounts on Douyin, Facebook, Instagram, Sina Weibo, Tencent, TikTok, Twitch, Twitter, Youku and YouTube or contact 3×3@fiba.basketball.

FIBA

SINGAPORE – Toulouse (FRA) finally broke through in 2026, powering past Hangzhou Jingwei (CHN) 21-12 in the Final to claim the FIBA 3×3 Singapore Challenger 2026 title and secure their place at the FIBA 3×3 World Tour Malaga 2026. Hangzhou Jingwei and Amsterdam RABOBANK (NED) also punched their tickets to Malaga after finishing second and third respectively, while Toulouse’s Hugo Suhard capped a dominant weekend by taking home MVP honors.

The Winner

Toulouse delivered when it mattered most, navigating a deep field to claim their first stop victory of the 2026 season. The French side opened their Main Draw campaign with a commanding 21-10 win over Hangzhou before grinding out a 16-13 victory over Barcelona (ESP) to reach the Quarter-Finals. Toulouse then turned back upstarts Caloocan (PHI) 18-10, with Franck Seguela leading the charge, before edging Amsterdam 17-14 in the Semi-Final.

Seguela scored six points in the Semi-Final, but it was Suhard who made the biggest impact across the weekend. The Toulouse star finished as the tournament’s MVP with 43.6 total player value, 27 points, 20 rebounds, 23 highlights and 16 key assists.

The title also marked Toulouse’s first stop win of the season across both the FIBA 3×3 World Tour and Challenger circuit.

The Runner-up

Hangzhou Jingwei produced a strong run to the Final and earned their place on the road to Malaga. After falling to Toulouse in their opening game, the Chinese side bounced back with a 20-17 victory over Barcelona, with Goran Vidovic scoring seven points. They then stunned London (GBR) 21-13 in the Quarter-Finals behind Wang Haotian’s nine-point performance before edging Shanghai (CHN) 18-16 in an all-Chinese Semi-Final.

The Semi-Final was a thriller. Hangzhou held a late advantage before Shanghai’s Xiang ZhiChao forced overtime at 16-all. Multiple Shanghai turnovers in the extra period gave Hangzhou further opportunities, and Wang eventually helped them seal an 18-16 victory and a place in the Final. Despite falling short against Toulouse, their runner-up finish was enough to secure a coveted WT Malaga ticket.

The Final

The Final began as a low-scoring battle, with Toulouse holding a 7-4 advantage with under six minutes remaining. Hangzhou quickly found themselves in the foul penalty, and Toulouse took full advantage. Paul Djoko and Jules Rambaut helped extend the French side’s lead to 17-10 with under four minutes remaining before Suhard pushed Toulouse further ahead.

At 19-12, Suhard stepped up once again, drilling an ice-cold two-pointer to close out the championship 21-12 and spark Toulouse’s celebrations.

The Reward

Toulouse, Hangzhou Jingwei and Amsterdam RABOBANK all secured qualification to the FIBA 3×3 World Tour Malaga 2026. For Toulouse, the reward caps a breakthrough weekend and gives the French side another opportunity to test themselves against the world’s best.

Final Standings

1. Toulouse (FRA) – qualified to WT Malaga
2. Hangzhou Jingwei (CHN) – qualified to WT Malaga
3. Amsterdam RABOBANK (NED) – qualified to WT Malaga
4. Shanghai (CHN)
5. London (GBR)

Top Scorers

1. Worthy de Jong (Amsterdam RABOBANK) – 41 pts
2. Karlis Lasmanis (Shanghai) – 32 pts
3. Hugo Suhard (Toulouse) – 27 pts
4. Franck Seguela (Toulouse) – 27 pts
5. Wang Haotian (Hangzhou Jingwei) – 26 pts

What’s Next

The Challenger circuit continues next weekend with the FIBA 3×3 Bordeaux Challenger 2026 on August 21-22 and the Beijing Challenger 2026 on August 22-23, giving more teams another chance to fight for precious World Tour qualification. The FIBA 3×3 World Tour 2026 will then return to action at Debrecen on August 29-30, as the world’s best teams resume their battle for World Tour glory.

The road to Malaga is now underway, and Toulouse, Hangzhou Jingwei and Amsterdam RABOBANK have earned their place on it.

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.

FIBA

SINGAPORE – The race for the FIBA 3×3 World Tour intensifies as the FIBA 3×3 Singapore Challenger 2026 brings a stacked international field to *SCAPE on August 15-16, with three coveted tickets to FIBA 3×3 World Tour Malaga 2026 up for grabs. As the 18th Challenger of the season and the second stop in Singapore, this event represents another crucial opportunity for teams to turn strong Challenger form into a place on the World Tour.

Contenders collide

The field features a who’s who of established 3×3 basketball programs, with several of the highest-ranked teams in the 2026 season standings set to battle for the title.

Amsterdam RABOBANK (NED), currently third overall, headline the field after establishing themselves as one of the circuit’s most consistent teams. They face a major challenge from fourth-ranked Skyliners (GER), with Shanghai (CHN) also arriving as a serious threat at No. 5 overall.

Toulouse (FRA) add further firepower from 11th, while Toronto (CAN), Hangzhou Jingwei (CHN), Crvena Zvezda (SRB) and Barcelona (ESP) give the tournament even more depth. With the top teams separated by relatively little in the standings, every game could have major consequences in the race for World Tour qualification.

Star power across the court

The Singapore Challenger also brings together a collection of proven international stars.

Amsterdam RABOBANK’s Jan Driessen will look to lead the Dutch side with his all-around game, while Skyliners will lean on the perimeter game of Stefan Kojic. Shanghai’s Wu Xingrui adds another dynamic offensive weapon to a team that has consistently challenged at the highest level this season.

Toronto’s Westher Molteni brings veteran experience and physicality, while Toulouse will have Franck Seguela, one of the most recognizable names in the global 3×3 basketball scene, in their ranks.

There is plenty more talent to watch. Goran Vidovic gives Hangzhou Jingwei a formidable presence, Nil Bria provides Barcelona with creativity and scoring ability, and Marko Dordevic will be one of the key players for Crvena Zvezda.

Taipei WanBao’s (TPE) Leo Branquinho and London’s (GBR) Ashley Hamilton add even more international experience to a field where one big performance could make all the difference.

Full Seeding List

1. Amsterdam RABOBANK (NED)
2. Skyliners (GER)
3. Shanghai (CHN)
4. Toronto (CAN)
5. Toulouse (FRA)
6. Hangzhou Jingwei (CHN)
7. Barcelona (ESP)
8. Crvena Zvezda (SRB)
9. Taipei WanBao (TPE)
10. London (GBR)
11. Christchurch BBNZ (NZL)
12. Seef (BRN)
13. Singapore (SGP)
14. Tokyo (JPN)
15. Caloocan (PHI)
16. Abidjan (CIV)

Qualifying Draw

Qualifying Draw A: Shanghai (CHN), Christchurch BBNZ (NZL), Tokyo (JPN)
Qualifying Draw B: Barcelona (ESP), Taipei WanBao (TPE), Abidjan (CIV)

Main Draw

Pool A: Amsterdam RABOBANK (NED), Seef (BRN), Singapore (SGP)
Pool B: Skyliners (GER), London (GBR), Caloocan (PHI)
Pool C: Toronto (CAN), Crvena Zvezda (SRB), QD A
Pool D: Toulouse (FRA), Hangzhou Jingwei (CHN), QD B

Road to the World Tour

With three FIBA 3×3 World Tour 2026 tickets on the line, every game in Singapore carries enormous importance. In a field packed with proven contenders, rising challengers and experienced veterans, there will be little room for error as teams battle for a place on the sport’s biggest stage.

Fans can expect the trademark mix of long-range shooting, spectacular finishes and relentless defense that has defined the Challenger season, as Singapore reprises its role as a halfcourt battleground in the race to the FIBA 3×3 World Tour.

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.

FIBA

MANILA, Philippines — Manila Gilas missed the Fiba 3×3 Women’s Series Singapore 2026 Main Draw after falling to Brazil, 21-8, in its final qualifying game Thursday at Scape 2 Orchard Link.

Kaye Pingol, Camille Malagar, Lee Sario and Samantha Harada couldn’t contain Brazil inside, while Vitoria Moura made things worse for Manila Gilas by hitting four deuces to finish with nine points.

READ: Manila Gilas reaches knockout stage of Fiba 3×3 Women’s Series

Gabi Guimaraes added seven points as Brazil swept its two qualifying games, including a 21-7 win over Vietnam, to join Thailand and Beijing in Pool D of the main draw.

Moura hit three straight deuces to mount a 14-4 lead with 7:06 remaining before adding another to put Brazil on the verge of victory, 20-8. Guimaraes then sealed the win with 4:48 left.

The Manila Gilas players scored two points each against Brazil.

Earlier, Gilas took down Vietnam, 15-9, behind the duo of Pingol and Malagar.

Pingol, who also designs the plays for the team, led the way with six points. Malagar had five, while Sario added four.

Malagar blocked a Vietnamese shot and hit a deuce to give Gilas a 9-4 lead with 3:46 remaining before Vietnam cut the deficit to 10-7.

Pingol then put the game away with a layup after Vietnam committed its eighth foul, leading to three straight points for the Gilas guard for a 14-7 lead with 1:06 to play.