All we learned from FIBA 3x3 World Tour Amsterdam Masters 2023

AMSTERDAM (Netherlands) - The historic 100th event on the FIBA 3x3 World Tour was celebrated in style at the first-ever Amsterdam Masters as Vienna (AUT) won their first title of the season. 

Let's recap the action.

Vienna flex like Schwarzenegger 

Unlike some of their rivals, Vienna didn't play a whole lot of events early in the season. 

But they've gotten a roll on recently and their form has built capped by finishing runners-up in Cebu. 

The Austrians wanted to go one better in Amsterdam, but again fell to their nemesis Miami (USA) on Day One. 

But they weren't shaken with Vienna thrashing Princeton (USA) then took down top seeds Ub Huishan NE (SRB) in the semis. 

Miami once again were waiting and another thriller took place as the teams went toe-to-toe in a classic final. 

This time the Austrians proved too strong with Enis Murati proving the hero with the title winning bucket as Vienna won their first title of the season and second Masters ever. 

Quincy Diggs, the top ranked American player, proved why he has to be rated amongst the best with an MVP performance while Matthias Linortner was a perfect sidekick. 

Vienna made a statement as the World Tour approaches the business end of the season. 

 

Miami fall short of back-to-back titles 

The Americans entered red-hot and there was more attention on Jimmer Fredette than Taylor Swift during NFL broadcasts. 

Fredette did not disappoint as he turned into 'Jimmer Buckets' to lead overall scoring (40) and player value (55.5), while pulling off several nasty moves.

 

But it wasn't enough as Miami fell agonizingly short of back-to-back triumphs.

Before that defeat at the last hurdle, Miami were unstoppable having taken down second seeds Antwerp TOPdesk (BEL) and dangerous Partizan (SRB) in the knockouts. 

Fredette had plenty of support from legendary big fella Kareem Maddox, who made the paint his personal playground. 

It wasn't quite meant to be for Miami on this occasion but the high-profile Americans are finally living up to the hype.

Amsterdam HiPRO's drought continues

Expectations were high for Amsterdam HiPRO (NED), who were hoping to end a long Masters title drought. 

Playing in front of an army of passionate fans, the hometown heroes once again left titleless. 

It didn't bode well when they lost to Marijampole Mantinga (LTU) in their opener in a result that saw them pitted against Ub Huishan NE in the quarters. 

With scoring machine Worthy de Jong's radar off, Amsterdam just couldn't get the buckets they needed as the Dutchmen fell at the quarters for the sixth time in nine Masters events this season. 

Amsterdam's frustrations are growing after every disappointing Masters result.

 

Ub Huishan NE's mini-slump continues

Is it time to get slightly worried? After winning a record six straight Masters to start the season, Ub have gone cold and played four straight events on the World Tour without even making the final.

Zoom out more and Ub have only one title from their last seven events in the last two months. 

Perhaps they are feeling the effects of such a gruelling campaign, where Ub have competed in a whopping 19 events this season. And that's excluding international competition for their star players. 

Ub weren't quite at full-strength without defensive ace Nemanja Barac, but they still were respectable enough to reach the semis. The bar is so ridiculously high that Ub are expected to win every event they play.

While their stars still played well, they didn't quite reach the heights we know they can hit and the competition has caught up. 

Ub will need to rediscover their best to issue a timely reminder that everything is still on track. 

Though they did have one record to celebrate in Amsterdam when legendary Dejan Majstorovic became the all-time leading scorer on the World Tour. 

 

100th Masters celebration

Can you believe the World Tour has reached its 100th Masters? When the 3x3 pro competition launched in 2012, nobody knew where this new urban game would go. 

In the years since, the World Tour has travelled all over the globe and attracted a whole new fanbase to hoops. Olympic status was granted along the way to confirm FIBA's goal of getting 3x3 'from the streets to the Olympics'. 

And the World Tour has grown remarkably, deeper and more talented than ever before. Fittingly, this historic milestone was celebrated in a new destination as the 100th Masters in Amsterdam proved an unforgettable event. 

 

Amsterdam lived up to the hype

You knew Amsterdam would live up to the hype. It's one of the most famous cities in the world, a tourist magnet, and now a host city of the World Tour. 

The Gashouder, a former gas storage facility, was the place to be in Amsterdam on October 6-7 as crazy crowds cemented the Netherlands' reputation as a European powerhouse in 3x3. 

We can't wait to return to this iconic Dutch capital.

 

FIBA