HONG KONG - The absolutely insane Hong Kong Final fittingly ended this incredible FIBA 3x3 World Tour 2024 season and who better to review this showpiece event than our entertaining experts. In the latest episode of FIBA 3x3's online show The Ten-Minute Sprint, Kyle Montgomery aka 'the voice of 3x3' and former Dutch 3x3 superstar Bas Rozendaal recap all the action.
They just have to start with Amsterdam's amazing triumph, which Montgomery rated as "one of the most iconic runs" in World Tour Final history. "Given the adversity they went through...incredible," said Montgomery, who has commentated on this event for the past decade.
Rozendaal, naturally, was over the moon on his former team creating history. But he was left totally impressed how they did it the hard way after a first up loss to Ulaanbaatar MMC Energy.
A Worthy de Jong Maurice Lacroix Buzzer Beater - which would foreshadow what was ahead - lifted them over rival Riffa and into a quarter-final match-up with two-time defending champion Ub Huishan NE.
"They had to face a team they had not done well against in the past," Rozendaal said. "The whole country of the Netherlands has a Serbian trauma from even the days I played.
"It's 20-16 Ub, but Amsterdam miraculously fights back into that game. Guess who gets the ball? Him Worthy knocks out Ub and the two-time winners of the tournament."
Skipping forward to that amazing final between Amsterdam and Paris, Montgomery and Rozendaal both marvelled at the ability of the Dutchmen to keep their cool in the nerve-jangling final moments as they won successful challenges that ultimately proved key.
"It takes a unit. Teamwork makes the dream work. This was a team win for Amsterdam. I couldn't be more impressed by them," Montgomery said.
The fellas then interviewed Amsterdam's hero de Jong, who walked off with the MVP to end the season with the 3x3 crown.
"Some things are written in the stars. I've put faith in this game and it's given me joy back," de Jong said. "I'm trying to maintain my joy, it's the reason why I went to 3x3. It's given me new challenges, new environment. When I'm having fun, I'm at my best."
De Jong said Amsterdam's success lay at the players becoming "chosen family". "Getting this close to each other, the results speak for themselves. It's wins," he said.
After such a long season, which included winning Olympic gold and MVP, de Jong said he was excited about a vacation before setting his sights on next season.
"Building on top of this, the puzzle pieces are falling into place," de Jong said. "We are trying to build a program that is sustainable for more years and enjoying what we are doing."
After his heroics in 2024, Montgomery labelled de Jong as "the man" in 3x3 and Rozendaal agreed.
"Not only his game, it's his personality. He had three game winners in five games in the tournament," Rozendaal said. "Worthy has more energy at the end of games. Last year he had a heavier load. Now he trusts his teammates, they are chosen family."
It was then the segment everyone had been waiting for - the top 10 plays of the tournament.
Who was the biggest shock? For the first time since 2016, there was no team from 3x3 powerhouse Serbia in the final.
"You get the feeling that teams are starting to catch up with the Serbians," Montgomery said. "We might be on the brink of a transition in the power structure."
After eight teams won titles from 16 stops, Montgomery declared this season was the "most parity we've seen in the league".
"This year was bonkers, absolutely mind-blowing," Montgomery said. "Only fitting for it to end in Hong Kong with all those thrillers."
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