PR N°56 - Novi Sad Al Wahda win FIBA 3x3 World Tour Rio de Janeiro Masters

RIO DE JANEIRO (2015 FIBA 3x3 World Tour) - Team Novi Sad Al Wahda (UAE) won their second FIBA 3x3 World Tour Masters of the season in Rio de Janeiro after defeating Santos (BRA) (21-15), who will join them and Team Rio (BRA) at the World Tour Final in Abu Dhabi on 15-16 October.

The reigning World Tour champions had already clinched a spot to the Final after winning the first Masters of the season in Manila on 1-2 August 2015 and featured in their fourth World Tour event this year. The victory in Brazil comes after Novi Sad Al Wahda finished 7th in Prague on 8-9 August and 3rd in Beijing on 15-16 August.

The number one 3x3 player in the world Dusan Domovic Bulut was unstoppable in Rio, scoring a tournament-high 46 points, including a memorable between-the-legs playground move and claimed MVP honours. ‘Mr Bullutproof’ topped all scorers in the final with 11 points. His team-mate and Bradesco Shoot-Out Contest winner Dejan Majstorovic added 6.

In the losing effort, Ismar Neto netted 9 points and team-mate Guilherme Rojas had 5. These two together with Fabio Santos will make their second straight appearance at the World Tour Final following their 9th place in Tokyo in 2014.

It was a second win at the World Tour this season as well for Dmitry ‘Smoove’ Krivenko. The Ukrainian professional dunker dominated the Bradesco Dunk Contest following his triumph in Prague last month.

Novi Sad Al Wahda took home the US $10,000 winning prize while Santos won US $4,000. Given that the former had already qualified for the FIBA 3x3 World Tour Final, third-place Rio (BRA) also secured a spot for Abu Dhabi on 15-16 October, where they join Manila North (PHI), Kranj (SLO), Kolobrzeg (POL), Doha (QAT), Ljubljana (SLO), Vilnius (LTU), Trbovlje (SLO), Denver (USA) and NY Harlem (USA).

Final Standings of the 2015 FIBA 3x3 World Tour Rio de Janeiro Masters:
1. Novi Sad Al Wahda (UAE)
2. Santos (BRA)
3. Rio (BRA)
4. Chicago (USA)
5. Rio Preto (BRA)
6. Pelotas (BRA)
7. Montevideo (URU)
8. Anchieta (BRA)
9. Pergamino (ARG)
10. Juana Diaz (PUR)
11. La Plata (ARG)
12. Esmeraldas (ECU)

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ABOUT FIBA 3x3

Exciting, urban and innovative, 3x3 is inspired by several forms of streetball played worldwide and is considered the world’s number one urban team sport. Steered by FIBA, games see two teams of three players face off on a basketball half-court.

It was played successfully for the first time in international competition at the 2010 Youth Olympic Games in Singapore and since then has benefitted from the launch of a yearly city-based FIBA 3x3 World Tour (www.fiba.basketball/3x3worldtour) and national-team world championships.

Nike is FIBA 3x3's Founding Partner.

FIBA 3x3 events are played on Sport Court's floors with Schelde backstops and benefit from Wilson's innovative and specially-made ball for 3x3.

For further information about 3x3, visit fiba.com/3x3, FIBA3x3 accounts on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube or contact 3x3@fiba.com.