BANGKOK (Thailand) - The best teams around the world competed in the first-ever FIBA 3x3 Champions Cup on March 14 - 16, and the take-aways are plenty.
Here’s how the 3-day competition lived up to the tagline “Restart The Game”:
THE SERBIANS BACK ON TOP
2024 was perhaps one to forget for the juggernauts from Serbia, at least by their own lofty standards. They missed out on a medal at the Paris 2024 Olympics despite coming in as the top seed and subsequently lost in heartbreaking fashion to home side Austria in the 3x3 Europe Cup Final less than a month after.
It would seem likely that the Serbians would see 2025 as a season to regain their status as the premier nation in 3x3, and what better way to achieve that than to lay claim to the inaugural title that dubs them the Champion of Champions.
A new-look side with multiple debuts for the National team, the Serbians dominated from start to finish, defeating the Olympic champs Netherlands twice in their run including the final to take home the Champions Cup.
If 2025 is touted to be the year of redemption for Serbia, they are well on their way to making the statement.
THE DUTCH STRUGGLES
No reason to sound alarm bells just yet for a team coming off a historic Gold Medal at the Paris Olympics, but the Dutch found themselves in a conundrum in Bangkok. Led once again by the mercurial Worthy de Jong, the team handled business for the most part, showcasing just why they’re one of the most exciting 3x3 Nations in the world.
It was when they faced Serbia that they faced hurdles. Two games that went right down to the wire saw the opposition come away with the win with the men in orange unable to find the dagger as they have done so often in the past.
There is also the fact that they will be without the legendary Arvin Slagter who announced his retirement prior to the start of the new season.
He brought immense leadership and sharpshooting to his side among numerous other qualities that made him an indispensable part of their system. Without his presence, the Dutch have to figure out just how to bring the most out of their personnel heading into a loaded 2025 calendar.
The Dutch are still one of the the top dogs, but it might just be a little harder to maintain that status.
CANADA HAVE A NEW STAR
The ever-dominant Canadians battled their way to another milestone in 3x3 as they took home the Champions Cup trophy. The cast was largely one fans are used to, but in the absence of star Michelle Plouffe, Saicha Grant-Allen rose through, establishing herself as Canada’s dominant force.
A member of the roster since 2023, competing at the AmeriCup for the past couple seasons, Grant-Allen has been immense for the side. However, her impact was never felt as strongly as her time in Bangkok. She finished the event as joint-top scorer with 32 points and a tournament-high Player Value of 40.7. Her versatility and impact on all facets of the game made her difficult to contain on offense and a problem to break through on defense.
Canada has one of the strongest cores in 3x3, giving their opponents much to handle every time. Grant-Allen though, just made them a whole lot more difficult to stop.
THE AMERICAN GROWING PAINS
Team USA have been rocking a new line-up since the Paris Olympics where star player Jimmer Fredette suffered a season-ending injury. The dynamic core of Dylan Travis, Mitch Hahn, James Parrott and Henry Caruso competed together for the first time at the AmeriCup in December last year where they came away with Gold. However, it wasn’t the best of times for them at the Champions Cup.
They started off strong in pool play with back-to-back wins, but failed to take off against a largely unassuming Australian side that had yet to be seen at this stage with their new line-up. They went on to suffer two losses in a row, to the Dutch in the semis and Australia once again for the Bronze Medal in a closely contested game, quite unlike their usual self that always seem to come through in the clutch.
Perhaps it just wasn’t their day in Bangkok, but with a long season ahead, including a 3x3 World Cup, the relatively new-look team USA have high expectations to live up to.
AUSTRALIA ARE LEGIT
Speaking of the Australians, they are here in a big way.
Coming into the tournament as the 6th seed out of 8 teams, Australia emerged as not only bronze-medal winners, but a must-see core that could do just about everything on the court.
A relatively inexperienced 3x3 squad, with only Joshua Davey having represented Australia before at the Asia Cup last season, the likes of Alex Higgins-Titsha and Dillon Stith exuded energy from the jump.
They suffered a loss to France and responded in dominant fashion with victories over home side Thailand and team USA. They almost notched an early contender for upset of the year as they narrowly beat Serbia, losing in OT. They then defeated the Americans in a heated battle to claim Bronze.
They were spectacular in Bangkok and we’ll get to see them again at the Asia Cup in a couple weeks and perhaps, even back in Continental action at the World Cup.
2025 is set up to be one of the most exciting seasons in history, and the Champions Cup was just the start it needed.