UTSUNOMIYA (Japan) - Top seed Ub (SRB) face the tough prospect of playing dangerous compatriots Liman (SRB) and Partizan (SRB) in the pool phase as the much-hyped FIBA 3x3 World Tour 2025 launches with the showpiece Utsunomiya Opener on April 26-27. There has been much anticipation over the 14th edition of the World Tour, which is set to be the best ever on record.
And what better place to start than Utsunomiya, the historical city in Japan that doubles as a favorite 3x3 destination and will host the opener for the fourth straight year. This loaded draw features the top 10 ranked teams in the world in what will be a fiercely contested battle to ignite the season.
Ub won the titles in 2022 and 2023, which set them on their way to dominant seasons, but fell short in an epic final to Miami (USA) last year.
Led by No.1 Strahinja Stojacic, the spectacular Serbs are out to start 2025 with a bang but will face foes Liman and Partizan in Pool A.
Their rivalry with legendary Liman will go up a level, while Partizan will be out for an early season statement and boast red-hot Stefan Milivojevic, who started 2025 with MVP at the historic Champions Cup.
Pool B is led by Toulouse (FRA), the fun-loving Frenchmen you knew as Paris. They might be wearing different colors, but these dudes are set to once again unleash chaos on the World Tour as superstar Franck Seguela eyes the crown.
Seguela faces a mouth-watering individual battle with Dennis Donkor, who is a two-way monster and Riffa's (BRN) talisman.
Also in this pool is London (USA). Don't think these dudes are from England, they are the artists formerly known as Princeton (USA). And they boast Austin Butler, who should no longer be mistaken for his Hollywood namesake.
It's probably taken us too long to get to defending champs Miami (USA). They look a bit different this season, but have not lost their potency with athletic beast Henry Caruso set to become Captain America after signing with Miami in the off-season.
Miami face in Pool C the always competitive Raudondvaris Hoptrans (LTU), who boast high-flyer Modestas Kumpys, and hometown heroes Utsunomiya (JPN).
Last but certainly not least is Amsterdam RABOBANK (NED), fresh off the dizzying heights of 2024 when they won almost all the big prizes. They are armed with two Olympic gold medalists, including MVP Worthy de Jong who you just know will bring the hype to Utsunomiya.
Amsterdam face a European blockbuster against Vienna (AUT), while the third team in Pool D will come from the QD featuring a slew of talented Japanese teams. FIBA