Liman add another title after claiming FIBA 3x3 Sukhbaatar Challenger 2024

SUKHBAATAR (Mongolia) - Liman (SRB) won their third title of the season after claiming the Sukhbaatar Challenger 2024 on August 11. 

Here's what happened in the 13th Challenger of the season.

The winner: Liman (SRB)

They were: No.1 most points scored, best shooting value & fewest points allowed

Some things never change such as Liman remaining one of the very best teams in 3x3. The legendary Serbs clinched their third title from four events after emerging triumphant in Sukhbaatar.

But they had to rebound after a first up loss to Utsunomiya BREX EXE (JPN) before ensuring their place into Day Two after whipping Sansar (MGL). 

Liman overcame a tough knockout draw to push past Riffa (BRN) and talented youthful St Pauli (GER) before proving far too good for rising Kandava Turiba (LAT) in the final. 

Sharpshooter Stefan Kojic was on target to finish with the MVP after he was No.1 in player value (63.6) and scoring (48). 

The runner-up: Kandava Turiba (LAT)

The latest Latvian sensation continue to make their mark after a stirring run in Sukhbaatar. They were in the 'Group of Death' on Day One, but beat Lausanne (SUI) to make it through to the knockout stages. 

The No.8 seed weren't there to merely make up the numbers as they swept aside Taipei WanBao (TPE) and Utsunomiya BREX EXE to reach the final. But Kandava's bid for a first title ultimately fell short against the experienced Liman. 

A breakthrough might not be far off with Latvia's Paris Olympian Francis Lacis showing no signs of fatigue to produce monster numbers as he continues to make a name for himself. 

The Final: Liman 21-Kandava Turiba 14

There was much intrigue over teams who stormed into the final, but Stefan Kojic was keen to get Liman cookin' early as he splashed a trademark two.

Rising Latvian Francis Lacis proved menacing inside the paint as underdog Kandava kept in touch. Kojic was jacking up twos at will and went bang, bang to restore Liman's edge. 

Liman's 9-2 run mid-game proved decisive and their title was secured when Kojic fittingly hit the winning bucket to cap a dominant tournament. 

 

The reward: Three tickets to the Macau Masters

Liman, Kandava Turiba and Utsunomiya BREX EXE qualified to the Macau Masters on October 19-20.

Final Standings:
1. Liman (SRB)
2. Kandava Turiba (LAT)
3. Utsunomiya BREX EXE (JPN)
4. St Pauli (GER)
5. Riffa (BRN)

Top Scorers:
1. Stefan Kojic (Liman, SRB) 48 pts
2. Kristaps Gluditis(Kandava Turiba, LAT) 38 pts
3. Francis Lacis(Kandava Turiba, LAT) 35 pts
4. Fabian Giessmann (St Pauli, GER) 35 pts
5. Petar Sucur (Utsunomiya BREX EXE, JPN) 27 pts

Key Stats:
- Peter Sucur had an incredible 14 points and player value of 20.3 in Utsunomiya BREX EXE's (JPN) victory over Liman.
- Young star Denzel Agyeman had a triple-five of 6 points, 5 rebounds and 7 highlights in St Pauli's quarter-final victory over Ulaanbaatar MMC Energy (MGL). 
- Superstar Thibaut Vervoort had a triple-five of 5 points, 5 rebounds and 6 highlights in Riffa's pool victory over Zavkhan SAINSCORE (MGL). 

FIBA