Belgium and Italy punch last ticket to Tokyo Olympics at FIBA 3x3 Universality Olympic Qualifying Tournament

6 Jun 2021

DEBRECEN (Hungary) - Italy's women and Belgium's men earned the last two tickets to 3x3's Olympic debut at the Tokyo Games following the FIBA 3x3 Universality Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Debrecen, Hungary on June 4-6.

In the women's category, Italy secured their spot thanks to a Tissot buzzer-beater courtesy of World Cup 2018 MVP Rae Lin D'Alie in a nail-biting final against Hungary (13-12) in front of thousands of (vaccinated) local fans. The 5ft. 4in. dynamo (1,63m) was named MVP of the event.

Italy join France, USA and Japan -  who qualified at the FIBA 3x3 Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Graz last week - China, the Russian Olympic Committee, Romania and Mongolia, who had already qualified for the Olympics based on the FIBA 3x3 Federation Ranking on November 1, 2019.

In the men's category, an undefeated Belgium defeated hosts Hungary in the final 21-14, carried by Thibaut Vervoort's 9 points in the final. Nick Celis contributed with the only triple-five (5 points, 6 highlights and 6 rebounds) of the entire tournament in the men's category. Rafael Bogaerts - who scored an unbelievable Tissot buzzer-beater against Mongolia in the semi-finals - was named MVP of the men's competition. 

Belgium join Latvia, Poland and the Netherlands, who got their tickets last weekend in Graz, and also Serbia, the Russian Olympic Committee, China and Japan , who had already secured their spot based on the FIBA 3x3 Federation Ranking on November 1, 2019.

FINAL STANDINGS

MEN
1. Belgium
2. Hungary
3. Slovenia
4. Mongolia
5. Ukraine
6. Romania

WOMEN
1. Italy
2. Hungary
3. Chinese Taipei
4. Netherlands
5. Estonia
6. Iran

3x3 will make its Olympic debut in the Tokyo Olympics on July 24-28.

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Exciting, urban and innovative, 3x3 is inspired by several forms of streetball played worldwide and is considered the world’s number one urban team sport. Steered by FIBA, games see two teams of three players face off on a basketball half-court.

It was played successfully for the first time in international competition at the 2010 Youth Olympic Games in Singapore and since then has benefited from the launch of a yearly city-based FIBA 3x3 World Tour and national-team FIBA 3x3 World & Continental Cups.

On 9 June 2017, 3x3 was added to the Olympic Program, starting from the Tokyo Games.

Wilson is the Global Ball and Apparel Partner and Tissot the Official Timekeeper of FIBA 3x3.

FIBA 3x3 events are played on Enlio floors with Wilson balls, Schelde backstops, and the Magic Sky canopy system.

For further information about 3x3, visit fiba3x3.basketball, FIBA 3x3 accounts on FacebookInstagramSina WeiboTencentTikTokTwitterYouku , YouTube and Twitch or contact 3x3@fiba.basketball.