HONG KONG - With the best teams of 2024 raring to go at the FIBA 3x3 World Tour Hong Kong Final, the pool phase is going to be lit and highlighted by blockbuster games. Let's look at five of the best. Ub Huishan NE (SRB) v Liman (SRB)
We just have to start with two of the GOATS - Ub Huishan NE and Liman, who are countrymen but they push friendship aside on the half-court. It's fierce and fiery whenever these rivals face off, which is quite often.
No.1 seed Ub have been the masters of the rivalry and famously won the final in Amsterdam, while they won a thriller recently in Neom. The latest chapter of 3x3's most storied rivalry is about to be written in Hong Kong.
Amsterdam (NED) v Riffa (BRN)
We just can't wait to watch Amsterdam and Riffa square off in a Pool C blockbuster. These two powers know each other well having played against each other numerously in 2024.
It's always on like Donkey Kong with Riffa having stunned Amsterdam in front of the Orange Army in Amsterdam to prove they have nerves of steel. That was on the back of Riffa's win over Amsterdam in Wuxi, so they will feel like they match up well.
But you just know excitement machine Worthy de Jong will be a man on a mission to turn the tide, but he will have all he can handle against two-way menace Dennis Donkor in an individual battle for the ages.
Miami (USA) v Raudondvaris Hoptrans (LTU)
Two World Tour 2024 champs will have a battle off in Pool B and it was Miami with a convincing victory over the lethal Lithuanians in the pool phase in Neom. Raudondvaris will need to stop scoring machine James Parrott, who almost had a triple-five in Neom.
But the Lithuanians will have their own walking bucket with Evaldas Dziaugys more than capable of going toe-to-toe with Parrott.
Paris (FRA) v Vienna (AUT)
Two of the absolute best in the business are on a collision course in Pool D. The Frenchmen might just have the psychological edge having come out trumps twice on the World Tour in recent months, including the quarters in Lausanne en route to the title.
There are mouth-watering clashes all over the half-court and a couple of individual match-ups that just have to be given a shout out. MVP winners Franck Seguela and Quincy Diggs will go bucket for bucket, while Hugo Suhard and Nico Kaltenbrunner will be pitted in a battle of speed.
Partizan (SRB) v Liman (SRB)
As you might have realized, Pool D is absolutely loaded and filled with compatriots having to go up against each other. It was Liman who won a semi-final classic in Neom and you just know Partizan will be out for revenge.
If they are to have the bragging rights then Partizan will need Stefan Milivojevic to turn into a 3x3 Gladiator because you know opposite number Stefan Kojic will continue his season-long heater.
FIBA