Asia Cup winners China out to conquer FIBA 3x3 Women's Series Prague Stop
PRAGUE (Czech Republic) - Powerhouse China are aiming to continue their hot form in Prague as the Asia Cup champs make their first appearance on this season's FIBA 3x3 Women's Series on July 29-30.
PRAGUE (Czech Republic) - Powerhouse China are aiming to continue their hot form in Prague as the Asia Cup winners make their first appearance on this season's FIBA 3x3 Women's Series on July 29-30.
After claiming bronze at the Crelan FIBA 3x3 World Cup 2022, China proved they are the best in Asia after winning gold in Singapore ahead of their Women's Series debut this season.
China's hopes of global domination won't be easy in an absolutely loaded field of 12 teams eyeing the prize in Prague.
The Favorites
China are on absolute fire having created a heat wave in Singapore, where they comfortably beat reigning champs Australia twice to capture their first ever Asia Cup.
With Asia Cup MVP Lili Wang, who showed off her famous tricks, and her partner in crime ZhiTing Zhang in the line-up, China will be tough to beat as they face a Day 1 blockbuster against No.2 seed Poland.
World No.4 Poland have twice made the semi-finals on the Women's Series this season, but are determined to go a step further and you wouldn't doubt a team led by former number one Klaudia Sosnowska.
Perhaps we shouldn't have waited so long to mention Spain, who are the No.1 seed and fresh off winning the Bordeaux Stop. Last year's Women's Series MVP Sandra Ygueravide added another trophy to her collection with an insane performance in France (46 points, best scoring performance on the Women's Series this season) and you just know she's always hungry for more success.
No.3 seed Lithuania deserve to be ranked among the favorites after a superb run at the World Cup 2022 was only ended by China in the bronze-medal game. They will have in Prague bucket-getter Kamile Nacickaite, who was a one-player wrecking ball in Antwerp to top the scoring charts.
The Field
There are plenty of teams eyeing a giant-killing run and we have to start with the private team Ulaanbaatar Amazons (MGL), who have steadily improved over two previous stops on this season's Women's Series.
They will again boast Canadian recruit Rashida Timbilla and, with better chemistry being built, the Mongolians are looking for a historic breakthrough.
Dusseldorf ZOOS (GER) will be the other private team at the event. Japanese star Aoi Katsura will spearhead the international squad, which will make its debut at the Women's Series.
It might just be the time for an old power to re-emerge with Italy hoping to turn back the clock in Prague. There is some uncertainty over the No.9 seed, who have the tough ask of facing Spain in Pool A, but it's a chance to once again see the mesmerizing skills of Raelin D'Alie, who is one of the best to ever do it.
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If you want a dark horse then Switzerland might just be the pick after they reached the quarters in Poitiers due largely to the sizzling stroke of Marielle Giroud, who scorched the net with 26 points from 3 games.
If the 5ft. 11in (1.80m) rebounding machine is lights out then Switzerland might just be able to emerge from a tough Pool B, where they face the two powerhouses Poland and China.
Pools
Pool A: Spain, Dusseldorf ZOOS (GER), Italy
Pool B: Poland, China, Switzerland
Pool C: Lithuania, Austria, Turkey
Pool D: Ulaanbaatar Amazons (MGL), Czech Republic, Portugal
How to watch
The two-day extravaganza is on July 29-30 and you can follow it live on the FIBA 3x3 YouTube and Facebook pages.
FIBA