The FIBA 3×3 World Tour returns this week to one of its most iconic venues. On Friday and Saturday, Lausanne will once again bring together several of the most prominent Olympic figures in this sport, in an event that coincides with the first anniversary of the Paris Olympic Games.
Among the most notable names will be Worthy de Jong, leader of Amsterdam RABOBANK –NED-, who secured the Olympic gold for The Netherlands with a decisive shot against France. Alongside him will be Jan Driessen, also present in that final and a key player for the Dutch team.
Ub aims for a fifth consecutive title
The Serbian team Ub –SRB-, currently ranked number one, will face a group that includes Hangzhou –CHN– and host Lausanne –SUI-. Among their ranks will be Strahinja Stojacic, a member of the Serbian national team in Paris, joined by Marko Brankovic, a regular presence on the international circuit.
Ub leads the overall standings of the tour and, if victorious in Lausanne, would claim their fifth consecutive title of the season.
Liman and Raudondvaris, a clash with history
Group D will bring together Liman –SRB– and Raudondvaris Hoptrans –LTU, two teams that have faced each other in decisive stages of previous World Tour editions. Mihailo Vasic, bronze medalist at the Tokyo Olympic Games, will be part of Liman after also competing in Paris.
On the Lithuanian side, Aurelijus Pukelis, a member of the team that earned bronze in Paris, will once again join forces with Evaldas Dziaugys, who also played an important role in that Olympic campaign. The third team in the group will come from a qualifying phase featuring Carolina –PUR-, Barcelona –ESP– and Jurmala –LAT-.
FIBA 3×3 Amsterdam
In Group B, Amsterdam RABOBANK will face Partizan –SRB– and Lugano –SUI-, who will feature Malik Hluchoweckyj and Westher Molteni. The Dutch team will look to advance with Worthy de Jong and Jan Driessen as their main leaders.
Group C will feature Miami –USA-, with Dylan Travis among their standout players. Their opponents will be Riffa –BRN– and Valencia –ESP, who will include Ivan Aurrecoechea, a player who had a prominent role in the last World Cup.
