Serbia and the Netherlands win FIBA 3x3 Europe Cup 2023
JERUSALEM (Israel) - Serbia (men) and the Netherlands (women) won the FIBA 3x3 Europe Cup 2023 in Jerusalem, Israel on September 5 - 7.
Serbia’s men continued their reign of excellence, winning their fifth straight gold medal as they defeated Lithuania 21 - 20 in a thrilling final.
Strahinja Stojacic scored a game-high 11 points, including the Maurice Lacroix buzzer-beating two to grab the win in a nail-biting affair. It would be one of many game winners for Stojacic who was unstoppable all tournament. He finished as top scorer for his nation with 42 points. His performance earned him the MVP award as well.
Stojacic led the Team of the Tournament, joined by Lithuania’s Aurelijus Pukelis who was the top scorer for his side through the event, putting up 8 points in a losing effort against Serbia to win silver and Latvia’s Karlis Lasmanis who finished as the leading scorer at the event, dropping an incredible 16 points in a thrilling comeback victory against France to take home bronze.
The Netherlands (Women) won their first-ever gold in the Europe Cup as they came away with a 21 - 18 victory against Spain in a back-and-forth final. Kiki Fleuren notched 10 points in the deciding clash while Loyce Bettonvil and Janis Boonstra combined for 14 rebounds. Noortje Driessen scored 6 points to cap off an incredible campaign that would see her win the MVP award. She led her team in scoring, finishing with 36 points throughout the tournament.
The Dutch star headlined the Team of the Tournament alongside Spanish sharpshooter Juana Camilion who lost narrowly in the final to capture silver and Lithuania’s Kamile Nacickaite who led her side in scoring through the event while also scoring 6 points in a Bronze-winning effort against Portugal.
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Exciting, urban and innovative, 3x3 is inspired by several forms of streetball played worldwide and is considered the most thrilling urban sport. Steered by FIBA, games see two teams of three players face off on a basketball half-court. 3x3 made its Olympic debut at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.
For further information about 3x3, visit fiba3x3.basketball, FIBA 3x3 accounts on Facebook, Instagram, Sina Weibo, Tencent, TikTok, Twitter, Youku , YouTube or contact 3x3@fiba.basketball.