In-form Amsterdam and Paris square off again at FIBA 3x3 World Tour Debrecen Masters 2023

DEBRECEN (Hungary) - In-form Amsterdam HiPRO (NED) and Paris (FRA) will renew their rivalry in a Day One blockbuster at the FIBA 3x3 Debrecen Masters. 

After a crazy event at Lausanne, the World Tour moves quickly to another fan favorite event in Debrecen on August 26-27.

In a loaded field of 16, there are a number of intriguing games but perhaps none more than No.2 seeds Amsterdam and Paris in Pool B. Led by MVP Worthy de Jong, the Dutch masters overcame Paris in a thriller to take out the FIBA 3x3 Quebec Challenger.

Amsterdam had also beaten the Frenchmen in another close game at the Marseille Masters. The battle between de Jong and magician Franck Seguela should be again epic and shape two teams with title ambitions.

Utsunomiya BREX EXE (JPN) won't be a third wheel in Pool B and can pack a punch through dynamos Marko Milakovic and Yosuke Saito. 

But no one will underestimate top-ranked Ub Huishan NE (SRB), who will be extra motivated after their flawless season finally ended with a quarter-final exit in Lausanne.

The spectacular Serbs will be back with their awesome foursome and even more determined having lost last year's final in Debrecen to Antwerp TOPdesk (BEL). 

Ub will play two qualifiers in Pool A.

Defending champs Antwerp TOPdesk are riding high having taken advantage of Ub's demise with victory in Lausanne - their second ever Masters title. 

They'll be led by defensive menace Dennis Donkor, who is the heart and soul of the brilliant Belgians. 

They'll be in a tough Pool C against Latvia led by Olympic gold medalists Edgars Krumins and Agnis Cavars, while Tel-Aviv (ISR) looms as a dark horse with dunking machine Netanel Artzi set to be a crowd favorite. 

Pool D will see a rematch between Miami (USA) and Raudondvaris Hoptrans (LTU), who have a knack of meeting in major events. 

The Americans won a tight contest in Lausanne with Jimmer Fredette again lighting up the Lithuanians with a game-high 9 points. 

Miami finally ended Ub's stranglehold on the World Tour in the quarters only to fall in the semis to Antwerp. 

Miami are inching closer to a first title, but will need to get out of a tough Pool D which also contains hosts Debrecen (HUN).

The qualifying draw is loaded with Lausanne (SUI) - fresh off a runners-up finish at home - to meet Hannover (GER) and Zivinice AP (BIH) in Draw A. 

Wuxi (CHN), Hangzhou (CHN) and Rome (ITA) will battle in Draw B.

FIBA