Where will your favorite FIBA 3x3 World Tour team play in 2020?

7 Feb 2020

MIES (Switzerland) – Every year the top 8 teams in the world get automatic tickets to the FIBA 3x3 World Tour. Similar to a draft, the top 4 get a chance to select the Masters where they want to play. Here are the results:

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#1 Team Liman (SRB)

Will play in:

Doha
Los Angeles
Montreal
Mexico

Analysis:

Liman played in each Masters last year so plenty of history here. The only tournament they won was Mexico back in 2017 (Ratkov MVP). They reached the final last year both in Doha and Los Angeles. Liman were stopped in the semi-finals both in Mexico and Montreal last year. Montreal was special though: they made it to the semis with just 3 players and even played half in game 2 against 3 due to injury. Liman are guaranteed to play in all 3 Masters located in the Americas.

Reaction (Stefan Stojacic):

“We picked Doha first because it’s the first event of the season and there were limited chances to go there. We have good memories of Mexico when we won in 2017. Last year I played but was going through this recovery process from injury. I think the whole team is satisfied to go to LA and Montreal again. If I can play, I’ll be happy to go to these events too!

#2 Team Riga (LAT)

Will play in:

Doha
Jeddah
Utsunomiya

Analysis:

The most successful World Tour team in the Masters last year (3 wins) go back to 2 of the cities where they won the trophy (Doha and Jeddah). They fell short last year in Utsunomiya at the World Tour Final after an epic game versus eventual winners Novi Sad. 


Reaction (Karlis Lasmanis):

“We’re excited to go back to Doha cause that’s where we won the first Masters of our career last year. I heard Jeddah was quite hot :-) I watched that event on your YouTube channel so it will be good to be there this time. I’ve never been to Utsunomiya so I’m excited. Plus it is just 2 weeks before the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. Hopefully we’re qualified and we can get used to the Japanese weather!

#3 Team Novi Sad (SRB)

Will play in:

Manila
Lausanne
Mexico

Analysis:

Been there, won that. Novi Sad already won a Masters in Manila, Lausanne and Mexico. Note that they will be active early in the season as they will also play in Doha as last year’s World Tour winners.

Reaction (Dejan Majstorovic):

“We got our first 2 picks. We were already qualified for Doha so Manila was the next earliest Masters and we knew it would be difficult to qualify to that one. We knew that we would probably be tired physically and emotionally after the Olympics. That’s why we thought Lausanne was the best time to get back to the World Tour. We love Mexico but it’s a tricky one for you because it forces us to travel to the other side of the world just one week before the Europe Cup.”

#4 NY Harlem (USA)

Will play in:

Prague
Lausanne

Analysis:

The number 1 team in America booked their ticket to Europe for the summer and will play back-to-back Masters in Czech Republic and Switzerland. Lausanne will bring back memories. This is where NY Harlem won their first-ever Masters after a bunch of memorable Tissot Buzzer Beaters.

 

Reaction (Disco Domo):

“We got our 2nd and 3rd picks so we’re happy. We really wanted to go to Manila because the Philippines are such a big basketball country but we knew the other teams would pick it early. We really enjoyed Prague last year. The city is beautiful, and we thought we underachieved last year (they lost in the quarters). So we thought we would go back and make a statement. Lausanne was great for us last year. We got so much support from the homecourt. I have a big part of my followers on Instagram coming from Switzerland. We’re excited to go back to this beautiful country and repeat.”

#5 Princeton (USA)

Will play in:

Prague
Jeddah

Analysis:

Princeton get 2 Masters outside of the Americas. They came close to their first-ever Masters title in Prague last year (final loss against Riga). It will be their first time in Jeddah this year.

 

 

#6 Sakiai (LTU)

Will play in:

Manila
Los Angeles

Analysis:

Sakiai was a revelation in 2019, going all the way from unranked to 6th overall in one year. They will make their debut both in Manila and Los Angeles this season.

#7 Piran (SLO)

Will play in:

Doha
Montreal

Analysis:

The experienced Piran get back to familiar territories. They will compete in the coveted World Tour opener in Doha, where they reached the semis last year. They were there for the World Tour’s first time in Montreal in 2019 though they did not exactly shine (quarter-finals exit). This said, they’ve felt like home in Canada last year as they won the Saskatoon Masters.

#8 Edmonton (CAN)
Will play in:

Doha
Utsunomiya

Analysis:

Speaking of Canada, the number 1 team in the country secured 2 tickets outside the Americas. They will discover Qatar for the first time. Edmonton competed in Utsunomiya last year at the World Tour Final. Expect the team to come back to Japan with a dose of revenge after they were sent home in the pool phase in 2019.