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)

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

BASKETBALL – Bahrain’s under-23 3×3 basketball women’s national team secured an impressive runner-up finish yesterday in stop one of the Asia West/Pacific conference in the Fiba 3×3 Youth Nations League 2026, currently being played in Singapore.

The Bahrainis, featuring the quartet of Bayan Salman, Ninel Merkotun, Polina Sviatskaia, and JaMya Robinson, topped their preliminary round group after winning both their games against hosts Singapore and Saudi Arabia, but they then lost in the women’s final against Australia.

Their squad, coached by veteran Bahraini tactician Murtadha Mohammed, came away with 80 points following their classification in second place.

Yesterday’s action marked the first of six stops in the Asia West/Pacific conference of this year’s Fiba 3×3 Youth Nations League.

The second will take place today until the completion of the series on Wednesday next week.

Teams earn points in each of the 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 their competition in fourth place.

Coached by Fiba 3×3 World Tour standout Bogdan Dragovic, the Bahrainis split their two fixtures in the preliminaries which were also against Singapore and Saudi.

Their one victory wasn’t enough, however, to book their berth in the men’s final.

Their squad features Ismaeel Alansari, Elyas Younes, Mishal Buhamood, and Mohammed Alanzi.

They came away with 60 points on their conference standings.

Bahrain’s delegation in Singapore is headed by Bahrain Basketball Association official Ahmed Elyas.

Both the women’s and men’s squads feature two other players for a total of six apiece, with Noor Najaf and Amina Hani also looking to lace up their sneakers for the women and Nasser Alanzoor and Hamad Faisal hoping to play for the men.

In yesterday’s opening stop, Bahrain’s women got their Pool A campaign underway with a 13-9 victory over Singapore.

Robinson scored five points to pace the nationals while Salman added four, Sviatskaya had three, and Merkotun chipped in with one.

The kingdom’s squad then followed that up with a 19-5 rout of Saudi. Robinson and Sviatskaya finished with seven points apiece in Bahrain’s victory, while Salman had four and Merkotun one point.

In the women’s final, however, Australia were too good and they held the Bahrainis to just eight points en route to securing the 21-point target.

Salman scored four for the nationals while Sviatskaya added three and Merkotun one.

Meanwhile, the men’s team lost their opening Pool A game to the home side Singaporeans 6-21, with Alanzi finishing as their leading scorer with just three points.

They roared back with a 14-11 triumph against Saudi as Alansari, Younes, and Buhamood had four points apiece, while Alanzi chipped in with two markers.

Australia went on to win the men’s final 22-18 against Singapore.

In today’s second stop, both Bahrain’s women’s and men’s teams are in Pool A of their respective competitions along with Saudi and Qatar.

They will each once again hope to top their division to qualify for today’s final.

patrick@gdnmedia.bh

Published August 21, 2026 1:19pm

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The Gilas Pilipinas U23 men’s and women’s teams ruled Stop 3 of the FIBA 3×3 Youth Nations League – Asia SEA, held in Malaysia on August 19.

The Philippine men’s team, composed of collegiate standouts Andrew Bongo, Doys Dungo, Rhyle Melencio, and Luis Pablo, swept all three of its games, defeating Vietnam, 21-9, Chinese Taipei, 21-13, and New Zealand, 21-19, in the final to claim the title.

The women’s team also swept the stop, beating Thailand, 21-9, New Zealand, 17-16, and Chinese Taipei, 17-14, in the final.

The women’s team is composed of Amyah Espanol, Kennan Ka, Jamanah Meniano, and Maria Victoria Pasilang.

In the first stop, the Philippine women’s team also ruled the tournament, while the men’s team placed third.

In Stop 2, the men’s team finished second.

The Philippines will return to action on Friday for the fourth stop, with two more stops happening this weekend.

—JKC, GMA News

BASKETBALL – Bahrain’s under-23 women’s and men’s 3×3 basketball national teams hit the half-court today in the first of six stops in the Fiba 3×3 Youth Nations League 2026-Asia West/Pacific conference in Singapore.

Bahrain are one of six nations taking part in both the women’s and men’s events.

The others are Australia, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Turkmenistan, and home side Singapore.

The women’s national squad features top 3×3 players Bayan Salman, Ninel Merkotun, Polina Sviatskaia, JaMya Robinson, Noor Najaf, and Amina Hani.

They are coached by veteran Bahraini tactician Murtadha Mohammed.

The men’s team is composed of Ismail Kamal, Meshal Mohammed, Nasser Alanzoor, Mohammed Alanzi, Elyas Younes, and Hamad Faisal.

They are coached by Bogdan Dragovic, who is a player on the Fiba 3×3 World Tour.

The upcoming Fiba 3×3 Youth Nations League 2026-Asia West/Pacific events act as qualification for the Fiba 3×3 U23 World Cup, which is to be held in Hubei, China, from September 15 to 19.

Today’s opening stop is to be followed by the second tomorrow and the third on Saturday.

Following a rest day on Sunday, action resumes with stop four on Monday, with the last two stops taking place the next two days.

Teams earn points in each of the stops, which will lead to determining who qualifies for the worlds.

Both Bahrain’s women and men are in Pool A of their respective competitions today alongside Saudi and hosts Singapore.

Pool B features Australia, Qatar, and Turkmenistan.

The Bahraini women get their campaign underway against the Singaporeans at 11.10am before playing their Saudi counterparts at 1pm.

In the men’s competition, Bahrain first lock horns with the Singaporeans at 9.45am and then take on their Saudi counterparts at 1.25pm.

Bahrain’s teams must finish atop Pool A in order to advance to their respective finals, where they will take on the winners of Pool B.

The women’s title-decider is scheduled for 2pm followed by the men’s at 2.25pm. All times are Bahrain.

BASKETBALL – Bahrain have named their under-23 women’s and men’s 3×3 basketball national teams that will be competing in the Fiba 3×3 Youth Nations League 2026-Asia West/Pacific conference in Singapore.

The kingdom’s representatives are scheduled to hit the hardwood in all six stops of their competition, to be held over as many days from Thursday to August 26.

Bahrain are one of six nations taking part in both the women’s and men’s events.

The others are Australia, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Turkmenistan, and home side Singapore.

The women’s national team features top 3×3 players Bayan Salman, Ninel Merkotun, Polina Sviatskaia, JaMya Robinson, Noor Najaf, and Amina Hani.

They are coached by veteran Bahraini tactician Murtadha Mohammed.

The men’s national squad is composed of Ismail Kamal, Meshal Mohammed, Nasser Alanzoor, Mohammed Alanzi, Elyas Younes, and Hamad Faisal.

They are coached by Bogdan Dragovic, who is fresh from competing with Bahrain’s Seef in the Singapore Challenger as part of the Fiba 3×3 World Tour 2026.

The national teams’ manager is Bahrain Basketball Association (BBA) official Ahmed Elyas.

The BBA announced the kingdom’s final rosters prior to their departure for Singapore on Saturday night.

Their upcoming Fiba 3×3 Youth Nations League 2026-Asia West/Pacific events act as qualification for the Fiba 3×3 U23 World Cup, which is to be held in Hubei, China, from September 15 to 19.

In the first of the six stops, which will kick start the action on Thursday later this week, Bahrain’s women have been slotted into Pool A along with Saudi and hosts Singapore.

Pool B features Australia, Qatar, and Turkmenistan.

The Bahrainis get their campaign underway against the Singaporeans at 11.10am before playing their Saudi counterparts at 1pm later that same day.

In the men’s competition, Bahrain are also in Pool A with Saudi and Singapore, with Pool B composed of Australia, Qatar, and Turkmenistan.

They first lock horns with the Singaporeans at 9.45am and then take on their Saudi rivals at 1.25pm.

Bahrain’s teams must finish atop Pool A in order to advance to their respective finals, where they will take on the winners of Pool B.

The women’s title-decider is scheduled for 2pm followed by the men’s at 2.25pm.

All times are Bahrain.

The FIBA 3×3 Youth Nations League 2026 features under-23 national teams competing across distinct conferences all over the world.

Each conference plays six developmental tournament stages, or stops, to determine who qualifies for the season-ending final.

Aside from Asia West/Pacific, the other conferences are Africa East, Africa North, Africa South, Americas North, Americas South, Asia Central/East, Asia SEA, Europe One, Europe Two, Europe Three, Europe Four, and Pacific.

There are also conferences for under-21 teams, including Asia One, Asia Two, Europe One, Europe Two, and Europe Three.

patrick@gdnmedia.bh

GOLD COAST (Australia) – New Caledonia will take centre stage this June as host of the 2026 FIBA 3×3 Youth Nations League, marking only the second time Oceania has delivered the regional event following the success of the 2025 edition held during the Pacific Mini Games.

The tournament will bring together emerging 3×3 talent from New Caledonia, Fiji, Tonga, and Solomon Islands, offering a rare home‑region qualification pathway to the FIBA 3×3 U23 World Cup 2026.

As the sole qualification route to the U23 World Cup, the Nations League carries significant weight. Aside from automatic berths for hosts China and the 2025 World Cup champions (Lithuania men and Netherlands women), all remaining 18 teams per gender will earn their place based on their Nations League performance. For Oceania’s young athletes, many of whom are preparing for the 2026 Commonwealth Games, this event provides both a competitive springboard and a meaningful development milestone.

FIBA Executive Director – Oceania, Amanda Jenkins, said hosting the event in New Caledonia reflects the region’s growing commitment to 3×3 as a strategic priority.

“3×3 is one of the most powerful accelerators we have for emerging basketball nations,” Ms Jenkins said. “Hosting Youth Nations League in Oceania ensures our young players gain access to high level competition. It’s a direct investment in the next generation, and New Caledonia is the perfect host to carry that momentum forward.”

The 2026 edition also carries long term benefits beyond World Cup qualification. To further strengthen pathways, the best ranked National Federations at the U23 World Cup will receive preferential access to the FIBA 3×3 Pro Circuit (Men) and the FIBA 3×3 Women’s Series in 2027. For Pacific nations building sustainable 3×3 programs, this creates a tangible link between youth development and professional opportunity.

Set against the turquoise lagoons and rich Kanak cultural heritage that define the archipelago, New Caledonia offers a uniquely vibrant backdrop for the 2026 FIBA 3×3 Youth Nations League. As one of the Pacific’s most dynamic sporting destinations, the territory blends world‑class facilities with a deep community passion for basketball, making it an ideal stage for emerging 3×3 talent.

For New Caledonia, hosting the event is both a sporting milestone and a community celebration. A representative from the New Caledonia Basketball Federation President, Thierry Durand said the event will energise local fans and inspire young players across the territory.

“To welcome the Youth Nations League is a proud moment for our basketball community,” Mr Durand said. “Our young athletes will compete on home soil, our volunteers and officials will gain invaluable experience, and our fans will see first hand what the future of 3×3 looks like. It’s more than a tournament, it’s a catalyst for growth.”

With Fiji’s men’s and women’s teams and Tonga’s women’s team deep in preparation for the Commonwealth Games, the timing of the Nations League offers a high performance lead in that aligns perfectly with their competitive calendar. For Solomon Islands and New Caledonia, the event provides a platform to accelerate youth development and strengthen national 3×3 structures.

The return of the Youth Nations League to Oceania underscores FIBA’s broader strategic objective, using 3×3 as a fast, accessible, and community driven format to elevate emerging basketball nations.

Hosting the event allows New Caledonia to showcase not only its natural beauty and warm hospitality, but also its growing commitment to youth sport, high performance pathways, and regional cooperation. For visiting teams and fans, the tournament promises an unforgettable mix of elite competition and Pacific charm, where the energy of 3×3 meets the spirit of an island community proud to welcome the region.

As the countdown to June begins, New Caledonia is poised to deliver an event that not only shapes qualification outcomes but also deepens the region’s long term investment in the sport.

*This content was translated by AI.

The South Korean men’s and women’s 3×3 basketball national teams will compete in the ‘2026 FIBA 3×3 Youth Nations League’ to be held in Changzhou, China, this August, aiming to strengthen their international competitiveness.

The Korea Basketball Association announced on the 6th that it decided for the first time this year to participate in the tournament to enhance competitiveness for the 2026 Aichi·Nagoya Asian Games. Previously, the association held its fourth 3×3 performance improvement committee meeting last May and finalized the selection of men’s and women’s national team players to compete in the Asian Games.

Participation in this tournament is expected to be a crucial mock exam that will determine success or failure at the Asian Games. Since the 3×3 basketball event at the 2026 Aichi·Nagoya Asian Games is limited to U-23 players, the plan is to assess team strength and build organizational cohesion by gathering top-tier players of the same age group at the Youth Nations League.

The Yeo Ja (CEO)team, led by coach Jeon Byeong-jun, has assembled a roster with players active in professional leagues, including Song Yun-ha (KB Stars), Kim Jong-un (BNK), Choi Ye-seul (Samsung Life), and Heo Yu-jeong (Shinhan Bank). Notably, Song Yun-ha is the recipient of the inaugural basketball Star Award at the 2024 Futures Star Awards hosted by StarNews. Having shown promise since high school, Song Yun-ha has grown while faithfully serving as a backup to Park Ji-soo, one of the top centers in the WKBL. Meanwhile, the Nam Ja (CEO)team, led by coach Bae Gil-tae, has brought together top university-level talents including Lee Ju-young, Kim Seung-woo (both Yonsei University), Lee Dong-geun (Korea University), and Gu Min-gyo (Sungkyunkwan University) to synchronize their efforts.

The Korean Nam Nyeo (CEO)team is scheduled to face Asian powerhouses such as China, Japan, Mongolia, and Iran in sequence at this tournament. It is evaluated as an ideal opportunity to sharpen practical game sense and improve match management skills by facing strong rival nations that will compete for medals at the main stage, the Asian Games.

The tournament will be held in a total of six ‘STOP’ formats. In each stop, participating countries are divided into two groups with three teams each to play group-stage matches, followed by a final match between the first-place teams from each group. The final winner will be determined by summing up the results obtained across all six stops.

Meanwhile, all matches of the ‘FIBA 3×3 Youth Nations League’ are scheduled to be broadcast live via the official FIBA 3×3 YouTube channel.

*This content was translated by AI.