22 May 2018
PHILIPPINE ARENA (FIBA 3x3 World Cup) - FIBA today announced the full schedule for the FIBA 3x3 World Cup 2018, which will take place in the Philippines on June 8-12.
The 5th edition of the World Cup will start with a women's game between France (World Cup 2012 runner-ups) and Argentina (World Cup 2016 quarter-finalists). The FIBA 3x3 World Cup features the same number of men and women's teams (20 apiece), who play on the same court.
The first 4 days of competition will be dedicated to pool play (while the 5th and final day will see the knock-out rounds) and systematically end with a game of the Filipino hosts (women on Day 1 and Day 3, men on Day 2 and Day 4).
Games will start everyday at 11.30 am local time (GMT+8) and end between 7 and 8 pm approximately. The only exception will be the final day, which will stretch from 12.50 pm to 9.30 pm.
Here is an early look at the most exciting games of the pool stage:
Day 1 (June 8)
Hungary - Netherlands (women) 4.20 pm local time
A tasty match-up between 2 of the best teams in Europe (Europe Cup 2016 gold medalists vs. Europe Cup 2017 bronze medalists)
Latvia - Ukraine (men) 5 pm
Serbia are the heavy favorites to win their 4th World title in 5 editions? Both these teams beat them at the Europe Cup last year (Latvia won gold and Ukraine won bronze).
Day 2 (June 9)
Serbia - Netherlands (men) 2 pm
Nothing much, just a rematch of last year's World Cup final in the pool phase!!!
Venezuela - Czech Republic (women) 4.20 pm
A hard to predict clash between the #1 seed Venezuela and the World Cup 2016 winners Czech Republic
Day 3 (June 10)
Japan - Poland (men) 2 pm
Japan are fresh off a bronze medal at the Asia Cup and Poland have put together maybe their best team ever. Also who wants to miss a Tomoya Ochiai vs Michael Hicks face-off?
Spain - Netherlands (women) 6 pm
We've mentioned the Netherlands finished 3rd at the Europe Cup last year. Well guess who were 2nd? That's right Spain featuring ankle-breaker specialist Paula Palomares and 2-time Olympian Nuria Martinez.
Day 4 (June 11)
USA - Russia (women) 1.20 pm
These 2 have won a combined 3 titles in 4 World Cup editions. It's the first time both USA and Russia compete at the World Cup since 2014. That year, they met in the final and USA beat Russia in Moscow in front of their friends and family. Looking for reveeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeenge?
Canada - Philippines (men) 4.50 pm
The Philippines have been seeded in the group of death. If Russia, Mongolia and Brazil weren't enough, they also have to deal with Canada, whose players have been one of the best professional teams on the FIBA 3x3 World Tour for the last 5 years. Yet with these fans, nothing's impossible for the Philippines.
You can watch every game of the FIBA 3x3 World Cup for free on the official FIBA and FIBA 3x3 social media accounts on YouTube and Facebook, and the Olympic Channel.
FIBA