11 Oct 2016
GUANGZHOU (2016 FIBA 3x3 World Championships) - Six teams finished undefeated on the inaugural day at the 2016 FIBA 3x3 World Championships in Guangzhou, China on 11 October. Myke Henry (USA’s men) and Alessandra Visconti (Italy’s women) were outstanding and we already got a rematch of the 2014 Final. Here's our wrap-up.
Team of the Day: Serbia (men) The 2014 World Championships runner-ups proved they meant business on the opening day in what is known as the pool of death. The number one 3x3 player in the world Dusan Domovic Bulut led his team to back-to-back wins against the other two medallists of the latest edition: reigning champs Qatar (21-16) and 2014 bronze medallists Russia (21-14)
More 2-0 perfect records: Japan, USA (men); Argentina, Hungary, USA (women)
Game of the Day: Serbia – Qatar (21-16) In a much-anticipated rematch of the 2014 final, Serbia caught fire from behind the arc, scoring a total of 6 two-pointers. Bulut (4 pts) took a back-seat to sharpshooter Dejan Majstorovic (6 pts) and big man Marko Savic (9 pts). It was a statement game for the number one seed against their bitter rivals, whose only bright spot was 20-year-old prodigy Abdulrahman Saad (9 pts)
Player of the Day: Myke Henry (USA) He wasn’t the top scorer (his team-mate Stehon Hannah was), nor did he score any fancy game-winner but the 23-year-old made enough contributions to the Top 10 with his big-time hops to warrantee a spot as Player of the Day.
Stat of the Day: Alessandra Visconti (1 game-winner) After losing the opener against the US, Italy’s women already had their back against the wall against Spain. With the game tied and a few seconds left, Alessandra Visconti showed her former number one player in the world title was no Roberto Benigni joke. Stone cold bucket.
Individual Contest: Skills Contest They qualified for the final (Friday 14 October): Georgia Agnew (New Zealand), Marta Fodor (Romania), Hsi-Yeh Liu (Chinese Taipei) and Alexandra Theodorean (Hungary)
Head-to-head schedule for final: Fodor vs Hsi-Yeh Liu and Agnew vs Theodorean
Day 2: 2.20-10.00pm on youtube.com/FIBA3x3 including the debuts of men’s European Champs Slovenia and 2012 silver medallists, France’s women.
FIBA