Ub Huishan NE look to continue momentum at FIBA 3x3 Fribourg Challenger 2024

FRIBOURG (Switzerland) - Top seed Ub Huishan NE (SUI) will bring confidence and strong form from their Chengdu World Tour triumph to the FIBA 3x3 Fribourg Challenger 2024 on July 5-6. 

Let's preview the eighth Challenger of the year.

The Favorites

Questions started to be asked after No.1 Ub Huishan NE (SRB) went titleless over the first three World Tours on the World Tour. But a determined Ub flexed their muscles to storm to the title in Chengdu and send a message to their rivals. 

 

Ub have regained their swagger and will be further boosted by the return of No.1 player Strahinja Stojacic. 

But Ub will have to be at their brilliant best in a loaded field also containing No.2 seed Amsterdam (NED).

Like the Serbs, these Dutch Masters will want to tune up ahead of the Paris Olympics, especially Worthy de Jong who has been in spectacular form to start 2024. 

No.3 seed Liman (SRB) will arrive with their confidence sky high after they clinched the FIBA 3x3 Poitiers Challenger.

 

Liman will have to do it the hard way through the qualifying draw, but that won't phase this legendary team. 

Stefan Kojic is in assassin mode, but he's not the only gunner in Fribourg with French superstar Franck Seguela locked and loaded as he leads Paris (FRA). 

We just have to add host Fribourg (SUI) to the list of contenders, with the Swiss having started the pro circuit in red-hot form. Big fella Natan Jurkovitz has been hanging off the rims, while Jonathan Dubas has also been a force in the paint. 

The Field

This is a deep draw with a number of teams capable of upsetting the favorites. Hangzhou (CHN) made the semis in Poitiers and if Vladimir Trajkovic goes on a heater then they can make a deep run. 

 

Hangzhou will face an early test in Pool D against always competitive Marijampole Mantinga (LTU), while Dusseldorf LFDY (GER) might just be the ultimate dark horse because 3x3 unicorn Niklas Kropp can do things that shouldn't be possible at his height. 

Kandava Turiba (LAT), Tel-Aviv (ISR) and Versailles (FRA) each have talented young players who won't be intimidated by anyone when they step on the half-court. 

Pools

Pool A: Ub Huishan NE (SRB), Kandava Turiba (LAT), Tel-Aviv (ISR)
Pool B: Amsterdam (NED), Fribourg (SUI), Versailles (FRA)
Pool C: Paris (FRA), Dusseldorf LFDY (GER), QD
Pool D: Hangzhou (CHN), Marijampole Mantinga (LTU), QD

What's at stake

The top 3 teams in Fribourg will qualify for the World Tour Wuxi on October 1- 2, 2024, as part of the FIBA 3x3 World Tour.

How to watch

The two-day extravaganza is on July 5-6 and you can follow it live on the FIBA 3x3 YouTube page. 

FIBA