Top Asian teams look to start season strong at FIBA 3x3 Ulaanbaatar Super Quest 2023

ULAANBAATAR (Mongolia) - Powerful Asian teams will be primed to start the season strong at the FIBA 3x3 Ulaanbaatar Super Quest on April 22-23.

There will be extra motivation with two tickets up for grabs at next month's Manila Masters. 

Let's look at all the vital information ahead of this all-important event staged in Ulaanbaatar, the capital of Mongolia who were recently crowned FIBA 3x3 Asia Cup 2023 men's champions. 

 

Pools

Pool A: UlaanbaatarMMC Energy (MGL), Zaisan MIGdaatgal (MGL), Amgalan (MGL)
Pool B: Sansar MMC Energy, Sansar MMC Energy (MGL), Zavkhan  (MGL), Kuala Lumpur (MAS)
Pool C: Futian (CHN), Saitama Alphas (JPN), Seongnam Officechec (KOR)
Pool D: Utsunomiya BREX (JPN), Manila Chooks (PHI), Bayangol Broncos (MGL)

The Favorites 

Some of the best teams in Asia will be Ulaanbaatar and they'll be keen to start with Ws. This is a loaded field headed by top seeds Ulaanbaatar MMC Energy (MGL) and Sansar MMC Energy (MGL). 

They'll enter with a ton of confidence after a number of their players were part of Mongolia's incredible triumph in Singapore earlier this month. 

No.1 national player Delgernyam Davaasambuu lived up to his nickname as 'The Bull' to collect MVP and he'll be leading Ulaanbaatar's charge alongside legendary sniper Steve Sir. 

Sansar's main man is springy Anand Ariunbold, who made the title-winning three-point play against Australia and wants to prove that he's the best player in Asia. 

 

Ulaanbaatar and Sansar will be keen for a good start ahead of the Utsunomiya Opener, where both teams will feature to kick-start the FIBA 3x3 World Tour 2023. 

But it won't just be a battle between Mongolian teams with the much anticipated Futian (CHN) aiming to live up to the hype.

In case you don't know, the Chinese team means business and they've done that by recruiting superstars Thibaut Vervoort and Dimeo van der Horst. 

You already know these dudes are walking buckets and they loom as an unstoppable duo. We can't wait to see them as teammates in Ulaanbaatar. 

 

The Field

Firstly, apologies are warranted as several of these teams probably should have been listed above because it would not be a surprise to see them go all the way. 

Let's start with Manila Chooks (PHI), who are always dangerous and this year they'll be deadlier after recruiting human highlight reel Mac Tallo from Cebu Chooks.

Tallo, as you well know, is a 3x3 magician and it's a given he'll do something crazy with the Wilson. Just don't miss it!

 

Rivalling Tallo in the showmanship stakes will be Tomoya Ochiai, the Japanese 3x3 OG and leader of Saitama Alphas (JPN). 

Saitama aren't the only Japanese team in contention with No.4 seed Utsunomiya BREX (JPN) aiming to make a splash before their home Masters in Utsunomiya. 

Their chances might just hinge on speedy Yosuke Saito, who  will be more popular than Tokyo Vice if he gets on a roll. 

Teams from Korea, Malaysia and several more from Mongolia can't be discounted either as the pro circuit starts on a crazy note. 

What's at stake

The top 2 teams in Ulaanbaatar will qualify for the Manila Masters, May 20-21, as part of the FIBA 3x3 World Tour 2023.

How to watch

The two-day extravaganza is on April 22-23 and you can follow it live on the FIBA 3x3 YouTube and Facebook pages.

FIBA