BANGKOK (Thailand) – The inaugural FIBA 3x3 Champions Cup and its host national Thailand have won the praise of the world’s top players and event partners after the tournament’s first edition kicked off the 2025 season in style in Thailand’s capital city Bangkok.
Kacie Bosh, who helped Team Canada to victory in the women’s tournament, said it was “an honor” to compete in the first Champions Cup tournament of its kind, adding: “This isn’t just another tournament – it’s a historic moment. It’s a very cool opportunity because, as athletes, we’re helping to lay the foundation for what this event will become in the future.”
The tournament, which ran between March 14-16 and was streamed live via the FIBA 3x3 YouTube page, welcomed a total of 16 men’s and women’s teams comprising continental and Olympic champions, as well as FIBA 3x3 top-ranked nations and hosts Thailand for the first time.
“Knowing that only the best teams from around the world are here makes it even more special. The level of competition sets this tournament apart from any other,” Kacie continued. “Every team here has already won a major cup, so there are no easy games—every matchup is against top-tier talent.”
Speaking after the first FIBA 3x3 tournament to land in Thailand, Stefan Milivojevic, who led Team Serbia to victory in the men’s tournament, earning himself the MVP award at FIBA 3x3 Champions Cup 2025, said “the goal is always to entertain the crowd”.
“Basketball means a lot to me,” Stefan continued. “It has opened a lot of pathways for me and I have met a lot of life-long friends. It has been a beautiful journey. Whenever you get to play for your national team, for your fans, family, and friends, it’s a really huge honor to participate.”
Team USA’s Dylan Travis said that the first ever FIBA 3x3 Champions Cup acted as “a good test to start the year and before the World Cup” and championed the diversity of talent, including from “all the zone cup winners” for creating some special matchups. He adds: “Bangkok was a new city for us to experience and our team had fun. Fans showed up to the games and it was a really cool environment to play in.”
Impressed by the first tournament of its kind to come to Thailand, Nipon Chawalitmanit, President of the Basketball Sport Association of Thailand, said it was special for the crowds “to see world-class athletes in person” and for an event of this calibre – hosted in Thailand – “being broadcast worldwide”.
Niopn added: “I know that the event will take place for five years, with this year as the first year, and will continue to grow. Our aim at creating a basketball wave for the basketball community in Thailand and for the national team in the future.”
Alex Sanchez Mollinger, FIBA 3x3’s Managing Director, concurred – outlining FIBA 3x3’s ambitions to take the sport all over the world and emphasizing its ability to engage and unite new fans in countries like Thailand. “We are very proud to work with our athletes and partners in all markets, while bringing the sport to fans globally,” he said. “FIBA 3x3 Champions Cup 2025 marks the first of many tournaments like it and the chance to see the best in the world compete on the same stage.”
Phimon Srikirkham, Chairman Subcommittee, said that the event marks a milestone for Thai basketball, for whom he hopes the team “will make it to the Olympics as a result of the development and organization of the event”.
Meanwhile, Mallika Leungnimitrmas, Director of Marketing for Thailand, TCP Group, expressed her pride to be a part of the first ever FiBA 3x3 event held in Thailand, adding: “Besides the competition at the venue, we also had the opportunity to broadcast the event, allowing viewers at home to watch and experience the excitement and fun of this competition.”
Alexandre Hammel, President of CRC SPORTS CO., LTD, also joins Mallika in thanking Tero Entertaining for “bringing the event to Thailand” and the support of SuperSports.