Serbia’s Ub, Dutch powerhouse Amsterdam RABOBANK and six other teams advanced to the knockout stage of the FIBA 3×3 World Tour Macau after the opening day of competition at the city’s landmark Ruins of St. Paul’s, setting up Sunday’s quarter-finals in one of the key stops on the international circuit.

The two-day event, sanctioned by the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) and organised by Macau’s Sports Bureau and StarMac Entertainment Production Limited, has brought together 16 elite teams competing for a share of a US$185,000 prize fund as well as valuable ranking points in the race towards the World Tour Finals and qualification pathways linked to the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic cycle.

Following qualification and group-stage matches on Saturday, the teams progressing to the quarter-finals were Ub (Serbia), Amsterdam RABOBANK (Netherlands), Miami (United States), Skyliners (Germany), Shanghai (China), DeQing (China), Taipei WanBao (Chinese Taipei) and Cotai WOLFUNITED (Macao, China).

The quarter-finals, semi-finals and final are due to be played later on Sunday, alongside a shoot-out contest and dunk competition.

Held against the backdrop of one of Macau’s most recognisable heritage sites, the tournament forms part of the global FIBA 3×3 World Tour, the premier international circuit in the urban version of the sport that has grown rapidly since its Olympic debut at the Tokyo Games.

Korean and Japanese 3×3 basketball teams will compete for spots in international tournaments. With players from Dongguk University and former Japanese 3×3 national team members participating, a fierce Korea-Japan match is expected at the KXO Hapcheon stop.

KXO (Korea 3×3 Basketball Federation) will hold the ‘NH Nonghyup Bank 2026 KXO 3×3 Hapcheon STOP’ on the special court at Hapcheon Multipurpose Gymnasium in Gyeongnam on the 10th and 11th. This tournament will be held in four divisions: U15, U18, men’s open and KXO STOP.

KXO (Chairman Park Geon-yeon) and the Hapcheon County Basketball Association (Chairman Kim Tae-su) are hosting, and Hapcheon County (county chief Kim Yun-cheol) and the Hapcheon County Sports Council (Chairman Yu Dal-hyung) are sponsoring. The event was originally scheduled to be held at the special court at Hapcheon Daejonggak, but was moved to Hapcheon Multipurpose Gymnasium due to a weekend rain forecast.

Hapcheon County, which is hosting a KXO STOP for the first time this year, is a region known for Haeinsa, which houses the Tripitaka Koreana woodblocks and Janggyeongpanjeon, a UNESCO world heritage site, and Gayasan, which boasts outstanding natural scenery. The tournament is expected to be held alongside the 4th Hapcheon Hwangto Hanwoo Festival, which begins on the 9th, creating an event that blends sports and a local festival.

The centerpiece of the tournament is the KXO STOP, which will decide the berth for the ‘FIBA 3×3 Challenger 2027.’ Four teams are expected to participate: Hongcheon and Dongguk University from Korea and Sagamihara and Drive Stage from Japan. As teams representing Korea and Japan face off, it is drawing attention as a “mini Korea-Japan match.”

From Japan, Sagamihara, centered on national team player Igo Kenya, will participate. Drive Stage, appearing on the KXO STOP stage for the first time this time, is also expected to showcase Japan’s characteristically organized 3×3 basketball.

The challenges from the Korean teams are formidable as well. Hongcheon, which showed impressive performance at the FIBA 3×3 Hongcheon Challenger 2026, will challenge for the title led by Adrian Clayborn Jr. and David Reimer. Dongguk University, composed of Park Gee-won, Noh Seong-hyun, Yoon Joo-hyuk and Lee Jong-wook, will also look for an upset.

Despite being held in Hapcheon, which is a distance from the metropolitan area, interest remains high, with more than 50 teams on the waiting list to participate. The tournament begins at 9 a.m. on the 10th.

Preliminary matches of the tournament will be streamed live on YouTube. The KXO STOP semifinals and final, and the U18 final, will be broadcast on KBS N Sports as recorded coverage.

[OSEN]

MADRID (Spain) – The race for FIBA 3×3 World Tour spots continues in Spain as the first-ever FIBA 3×3 Madrid Challenger 2026 brings a loaded field to the Pabellon Amaya Valdemoro in Alcobendas, Madrid, on October 3-4, with three coveted FIBA 3×3 World Tour Manama tickets on the line. As the 26th Challenger of the season, Madrid marks another crucial opportunity for some of the Pro Circuit’s leading teams to turn Challenger success into a place on the World Tour.

Big Names Converge

The Madrid field features a collection of established 3×3 basketball powerhouses, led by top-seeded Ub (SRB) and second-ranked Liman (SRB). Liman arrive with serious momentum after claiming their third Challenger win of the season at Mataró, adding another banner to a campaign that has also already included two FIBA 3×3 World Tour victories.

Baskets Bonn (GER), currently fourth overall in the FIBA 3×3 World Tour standings, have also enjoyed a standout campaign with three FIBA 3×3 World Tour stop wins and three Challenger victories to their name. They will face strong competition from Skyliners (GER), Ulaanbaatar MMC Energy (MGL) and DeQing (CHN), all of whom have already captured Challenger banners this season.

The Spanish contingent adds another layer to the tournament, with 15th-ranked Fuengirola (ESP) and 19th-ranked Barcelona (ESP) looking to make the most of home-court conditions. Barcelona have already won a Challenger this season, while Bordeaux (FRA) complete the list of big name contenders.

Star Power Galore

Madrid will also feature a host of established 3×3 basketball stars. Ub’s Strahinja Stojacic headlines the players list, with the Serbian star set to lead one of the tournament’s most favored teams. Liman will counter with Stefan Milivojevic, while Baskets Bonn can call on the athletic Fabian Giessmann.

Stefan Kojic brings experience and perimeter scoring ability to Skyliners, while Ulaanbaatar MMC Energy will have veteran playmaker and FIBA 3×3 World Cup champion Nauris Miezis in their ranks. DeQing will look to another World Cup winner, Francis Lacis, with Fuengirola relying on Isaac Mayo and Barcelona on Jordi Juanola. Bordeaux will also have a proven performer in Alex Vialaret, giving the French side another weapon in a field where individual matchups could prove decisive.

Full Seeding List

1. Ub (SRB)
2. Liman (SRB)
3. Baskets Bonn (GER)
4. Skyliners (GER)
5. Ulaanbaatar MMC Energy (MGL)
6. DeQing (CHN)
7. Fuengirola (ESP)
8. Taipei WanBao (TPE)
9. Barcelona (ESP)
10. Bordeaux (FRA)
11. Liberec DEKSTONE (CZE)
12. Warsaw (POL)
13. Alexandria (EGY)
14. Diadema (BRA)
15. San Salvador (ESA)
16. Dubai (UAE)

Qualifying Draw

Qualifying Draw A: Ulaanbaatar MMC Energy (MGL), Warsaw (POL), Alexandria (EGY)
Qualifying Draw B: Barcelona (ESP), Bordeaux (FRA), San Salvador (ESA)

Main Draw

Pool A: Ub (SRB), Liberec DEKSTONE (CZE), Diadema (BRA)
Pool B: Liman (SRB), Taipei WanBao (TPE), Dubai (UAE)
Pool C: Baskets Bonn (GER), Fuengirola (ESP), QD A
Pool D: Skyliners (GER), DeQing (CHN), QD B

Road to Manama

With three tickets to FIBA 3×3 World Tour Manama 2026 available, every game in Madrid will carry significant weight. Madrid’s debut as a Challenger host city gives teams another chance to make a late-season push, while established contenders will be looking to add another banner and strengthen their position on the road to the FIBA 3×3 World Tour Rio de Janiero Final 2026.

With elite teams, proven stars and World Tour berths at stake, Madrid is set for two days of high-level 3×3 basketball in the exciting and intense Challenger season.

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

RIO DE JANEIRO (Brazil) – With the FIBA 3×3 World Tour Rio de Janeiro Final 2026 set to bring together 14 teams in the Brazilian city on December 12-13, every game across the remaining stops of the 2026 calendar could prove crucial as teams battle for their place at the biggest event of the year.

The Top 10 teams in the FIBA 3×3 World Tour 2026 standings will earn direct qualification to the Rio de Janeiro Final 2026 Main Draw. Those teams will be confirmed either after the FIBA 3×3 World Tour Hong Kong 2026, or earlier if their qualification becomes statistically certain.

The race does not stop there, though. Three additional teams will qualify to the Rio de Janeiro Final 2026 based on the highest number of wins in Pro Events Main Draw games after the last Stop of the season, excluding teams that have already secured a place among the Top 10.

Of those three teams, the best-ranked team will be allocated directly to the Rio de Janeiro Final 2026 Main Draw, while the other two will enter the Play-In, giving them one final route into the competition.

One additional spot in the Play-In will be reserved for the LOC Wild Card, completing the 14-team field.

If teams are tied in the relevant qualification criteria, the tie-breakers will be applied in the following order: Season Win Percentage, followed by Team Ranking.

That means every victory matters. With the final qualification places potentially coming down to the closing stages of the FIBA 3×3 World Tour 2026 season, teams will have everything to play for as the road to the Rio de Janeiro Final 2026 reaches its climax.

Fourteen teams. One Final. One FIBA 3×3 World Tour champion.

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