Chinese powers Beijing and Futian square off at FIBA 3x3 Shanghai Masters 2023

SHANGHAI (China) - Chinese powerhouses Beijing (CHN) and Futian (CHN) will battle in a Day One blockbuster to ignite the first-ever Shanghai Masters. 

The FIBA 3x3 World Tour journeys to glitzy Shanghai for the first time on October 14-15 with the loud fans set to have their loyalties split between the two best Chinese teams.

Beijing and Futian will meet in Pool C, which also has Antananarivo (MAD) led by scoring machine Elly Randriamampionona. 

Beijing will be keen to rebound after crashing out on Day One in Amsterdam and will feel confident having beaten Futian in the final of the Penang Challenger.

While superheroes Karlis Lasmanis and Nauris Miezis lace up for Beijing, Futian will be without Split Challenger MVP Dimeo van der Horst as more scoring burden will be placed on the shoulders of Thibaut Vervoort.

Top seeds Vienna (AUT) loom as the team to beat in Pool A and their confidence is sky high after winning in Amsterdam having avenged a heart-breaking defeat to Miami (USA) in the epic final in Cebu. 

Led by Amsterdam MVP Quincy Diggs, Vienna are the favorites in Pool A featuring Utrecht (NED) and Omaha (USA).

In Pool B, second seeds Liman Huishan NE (SRB) will square up against their former talisman Stefan Stojacic, who has led Wuxi (CHN) to a strong showing this season. 

Liman fell in the quarters in Amsterdam and still don't have a Masters title this season having gone six events without capturing the main prize.

With sniper Stefan Kojic and big fella Mihailo Vasic leading the charge,  Liman might be able to add to their collection of titles. 

Saitama ALPHAS EXE (JPN) won't be a third wheel because they are in strong form having finished runners-up at the Hongcheon Challenger. 

Young gun Petar Sucur is ready to heat up Shanghai, while Tomoya Ochiai has been schooling opponents on the half-court for years. 

All eyes in Pool D are on the intriguing clash between Partizan (SRB) and Ulaanbaatar MMC Energy (MGL).

It might turn into a shootout contest between snipers Stefan Milivojevic and Steve Sir, while it will be a show of strength when Delgernyam Davaasambuu and Marko Stevanovic battle inside the paint. 

Shinagawa CC EXE (JPN) will be out to prove they can go on a giant-killing run. 

FIBA