The Las Vegas Aces are in the midst of another successful season, having already secured a playoff berth as they seek to win a second consecutive (and fourth overall) WNBA championship.

One of the more unheralded names on the roster of basketball superstars is that of Yamamoto Mai, who has quickly become a fan favourite thanks to her diminutive stature (5-foot-4), contagious energy, and unique, almost two-handed shooting stroke.

The 26-year-old is enjoying her rookie season in the league, having made an impression in a preseason exhibition when she led Japan to a 94-78 win over the Aces, scoring a game-high 24 points on the back of seven three-pointers.

MIES (Switzerland) – DeQing (CHN) have already shown they can win Challengers, compete deep into FIBA 3×3 World Tour stops and knock off established contenders. Their 2026 résumé includes a third-place finish in WT Ulaanbaatar and a dominant Xi’an Challenger title, where they beat Barcelona (ESP), Phoenix (USA), Xi’an (CHN) and Skyliners (GER) before defeating Phoenix again in the Final. Add an increasingly dangerous international mix to a productive Chinese core, and DeQing have the ingredients to become a serious second-half threat.

By the Numbers

Here are three reasons DeQing could finally break through.

1. Multiple ways to win

Francis Lacis and Guim Expósito give DeQing an important international dimension. Both have actually won the FIBA 3×3 World Cup — Exposito in 2025 and Lacis just this year.

Lacis has already shown he can deliver when games tighten. In the Xi’an Challenger Semi-Finals, DeQing trailed Skyliners 12-9 before Lacis scored the team’s final three points to complete an 18-16 comeback. He then contributed again in the Final as DeQing closed out Phoenix 22-17.

Expósito adds another experienced World Tour presence and a perimeter option capable of generating offense in a variety of ways. He is one of the best passers on the Pro Circuit and is a solid scoring threat. Together, they give DeQing flexibility rather than forcing the team into one offensive formula. That adaptability becomes even more valuable when every knockout possession carries weight.

2. Chinese core can deliver

This is where DeQing’s ceiling becomes particularly interesting. Zhang Dianliang was simply unstoppable in Xi’an. He led the tournament with 38 points and posted a competition-best 40.5 Player Value. The title, though, was hardly a one-man operation. Guo Hanyu erupted for 10 points in the Final, repeatedly making timely plays throughout the championship run.

That combination gives DeQing a distinctive identity: the international players bring experience and versatility, while the Chinese core provides depth, familiarity and multiple ways to contribute. Zhang is an elite inside-outside threat, while Guo is as explosive as they come. Li Haonan and Wang Yunzhang round out the extended squad with a good mix of speed and size. DeQing know they don’t need one player to solve every possession because they have options.

3. High ceiling

The results tell a compelling story. DeQing finished fourth at the Hengqin Challenger, then won Xi’an. They followed that with a third-place finish at WT Ulaanbaatar and a second-place result at the Darkhan Challenger.

Of course, the individual wins matter even more than the placements. Their Xi’an title run included victories over four different opponents before the Final, while their Darkhan campaign featured a 21-19 Quarter-Finals victory over powerhouse Ulaanbaatar MMC Energy (MGL). DeQing have repeatedly shown they can survive against teams with World Tour pedigree.

As such, the argument isn’t simply that DeQing are improving. They’ve already demonstrated that their ceiling is high enough to beat elite opposition.

X-Factor: Zhang Dianliang becoming THE Guy

Zhang has already shown what happens when he takes control. His Xi’an performance was the clearest snapshot of DeQing’s ceiling. The next step is reproducing that impact against FIBA 3×3 World Tour defenses without the offense becoming overly dependent on him.

If Zhang becomes a consistent primary scoring threat while Lacis, Expósito, and the Chinese core maintain their production, DeQing suddenly have the firepower and variety to make a deep World Tour run.

One thing is for sure — DeQing aren’t waiting for one star to emerge. They’ve already built enough depth to win. The next step is turning that depth into consistency on the World Tour. With the Hongcheon Challenger ahead and WT Malaga on the horizon, the second half of 2026 offers another opportunity to turn a promising campaign into something much bigger.

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

MIES (Switzerland) – Ulaanbaatar MMC Energy have evolved from an exciting homegrown project into one of the FIBA 3×3 World Tour’s most dangerous contenders. Their 2026 campaign has already featured two runner-up finishes at WT Ulaanbaatar and WT Shanghai after opening the season with a third-place finish in WT Chengdu. Despite coming agonizingly close on multiple occasions, a first World Tour title has remained just out of reach. Yet every tournament has strengthened the case that their breakthrough is no longer a matter of if, but when. Here are three reasons they could finally get over the line.

By the Numbers

Here are three reasons why they could finally turn that promise into their first World Tour title of the season.

1. Nauris Miezis is playing at an MVP level

Every championship contender needs a superstar capable of changing games with the ball in his hands. Well, Ulaanbaatar MMC Energy already have one.

Recently leading Latvia to the FIBA 3×3 World Cup 2026 title, Nauris Miezis continues to remind everyone why he remains one of the sport’s premier players. Few combine scoring, playmaking and late-game composure as seamlessly as the Latvian maestro. Whether he’s creating separation for a signature two-pointer, threading a pass through traffic or taking over in clutch moments, Miezis dictates the rhythm of every game he plays.

More importantly, his influence extends beyond the stat sheet. His decision-making is the thread that ties Ulaanbaatar’s offense together, creating opportunities for teammates while forcing defenses into impossible choices.

2. One of the deepest Mongolian cores

The story of Ulaanbaatar MMC Energy underscores the rapid growth of Mongolia’s 3×3 basketball talent. Delgernyam Davaasambuu, Dulguun Enkhbat, Anand Ariunbold and Enkhbaatar Onolbaatar have matured into reliable World Tour contributors capable of matching up against the Pro Circuit’s established powers. Rather than relying solely on Miezis to create everything, Ulaanbaatar have attacked with balance, chemistry and growing confidence.

The numbers back it up. Their 9-5 World Tour record translates to a 64 percent winning percentage, which is one of the five best marks on the Tour this season. That consistency reflects a team that has moved beyond being an underdog and into the conversation with the circuit’s elite.

3. They can beat anyone

Championship teams emerge from a foundation of belief they have built one signature victory at a time. Ulaanbaatar MMC Energy have undoubtedly already assembled an impressive collection. They captured the Sukhbaatar Challenger 2026 title, reached two FIBA 3×3 World Tour Finals in Ulaanbaatar and Shanghai, eliminated Liman in the WT Shanghai Quarter-Finals before knocking off Shanghai in the Semi-Finals, and pushed Hangzhou Jingwei to the limit in the championship game. Later in the season, they stunned top-seeded Ub in the Ulaanbaatar Quarter-Finals with a spectacular alley-oop winner from Miezis to Davaasambuu before ultimately falling to Liman in an overtime classic in the Final.

Those performances have defined the conversation around this team. They don’t need to prove they belong on the biggest stage. They just need to finish the job.

X-Factor: Who’s the second scorer?

Miezis will command the spotlight, and opposing defenses will continue to build game plans around slowing him down. That creates opportunities for everyone else.

If Davaasambuu or any other member of the Mongolian core can consistently provide five to seven points alongside Miezis, Ulaanbaatar MMC Energy become significantly more difficult to defend. Finding that dependable secondary scoring option could be the final piece that turns deep tournament runs into actual World Tour stop wins.

The overtime defeat to Liman in front of a packed home crowd was heartbreaking, but it may ultimately prove to be the defining moment of Ulaanbaatar MMC Energy’s season. Standing toe-to-toe with the very best in such an atmosphere fosters trust and belief. If they carry that belief and level of execution into the remaining stops, their long-awaited first World Tour title this year may not be far away.

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