Sakiai Gulbele win FIBA 3x3 World Tour Hong Kong Masters 2022

HONG KONG - Sakiai Gulbele (LTU) won their first FIBA 3x3 World Tour event of the season (and second all time) after beating Vienna (AUT) - 21-17 - in the final of the Hong Kong Masters on November 26-27, 2022.

Three years after winning the Montreal Masters 2019, the Lithuanians had an impressive run in Hong Kong, which was hosting the World Tour for the very first time. They beat four higher seeds in two days, including Riga (LAT), who were on a 27-game winning streak on the pro circuit.

The event top scorer Marijus Uzupis had a game-high 12 points (and 6 rebounds) in a tight final, which saw four lead changes. But it was his teammate, 28-year-old Aurelijus Pukelis, who scored the winning free throw, who led the field in player value and was named MVP. Former number one player in the world Stefan Stojacic aka 'Mr. Robot' had a team-high 8 points for Vienna in the final, which was officiated by two female referees, Jasmina Juras and Cecilia Toth.

In the individual contests, Stefan Kojic (Liman, SRB), won the Chooks to Go Shoot-Out Contest while Brodie Stephens (Australia) took home the M1 Sports Dunk Contest. 

FINAL STANDINGS IN HONG KONG:
1. Sakiai Gulbele (LTU)
2. Vienna (AUT)
3. Amsterdam HiPRO (NED)
4. Antwerp (BEL)
5. Beijing (CHN)
6. Riga (LAT)
7. Ub Huishan NE (SRB)
8. Ulaanbaatar MMC Energy (MGL)
9. Liman (SRB)
10. Hong Kong (HKG)
11. Cebu Chooks (PHI)
12. Kaohsiung (TPE)
13. Wi Kau Sha (HKG)
14. HKG Island (HKG)
15. Yogyakarta Gojek (INA)
16. Kowloon (HKG)

The Hong Kong Masters was the last event of an exciting regular season, which featured the Utsunomiya Opener and 10 different Masters. The top 12 teams in the standings have earned a ticket to the FIBA 3x3 World Tour Abu Dhabi Final, which will take place on December 10-11, 2022. Here is the full list: Ub Huishan NE (SRB), Liman (SRB), Antwerp (BEL), Riga (LAT), Vienna (AUT), Amsterdam HiPRO (NED), Sakiai Gulbele (LTU), Ulaanbaatar MMC Energy (MGL), Princeton (USA), Omaha 3Ball (USA), Utrecht (NED) and Lausanne Sport (SUI).

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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 benefited from the launch of a yearly professional circuit for men and women (World Tour and Women’s Series respectively) and national-team competitions.

3x3 made its Olympic debut at the Tokyo 2020 Games.

Wilson is the Global Ball Partner. Wilson is also the Apparel Partner, Maurice Lacroix the Official Timekeeper and Chooks-to-Go the Global Partner of the FIBA 3x3 World Tour 2022.

FIBA 3x3 events are played on Enlio floors with Wilson balls, Schelde backstops, Bodet shot-clocks and the Magic Sky canopy system.

For further information about 3x3, visit fiba3x3.basketball, FIBA 3x3 accounts on Douyin, Facebook, Instagram, Sina Weibo, Tencent, TikTok, Twitch, Twitter, Youku and YouTube or contact 3x3@fiba.basketball.

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