Ub Huishan NE face star-studded Miami in Day One blockbuster at 3x3 World Tour Utsunomiya Opener 2023

UTSUNOMIYA (Japan) - Defending champs Ub Huishan NE (SRB) will start their season with tough Day One challenges as the FIBA 3x3 World Tour 2023 launches at the Utsunomiya Opener on April 29-30. 

The World Tour 2023 is more hyped than the final season of Succession and it all kicks off in Utsunomiya, a favorite 3x3 destination hosting the opener for the second straight year. 

 

No.1 seed Ub absolutely dominated last season and bring their awesome foursome to Japan led by top ranked player Strahinja Stojacic and legendary Dejan Majstorovic. 

 
But teams will be out for their crown starting with new kids on the block Miami (USA), who are loaded with some of the best players from the USA. 

This glitzy team is fitting considering they rep South Beach and they've recruited the big guns including former Princeton and Team USA stars Kareem Maddox and Canyon Barry, while ex-Omaha scoring machine Dylan Travis is set to go up a level. 

Oh and they also have Jimmer Fredette. You might just have heard of this former NBA player and college star who is so popular that he started the 'Jimmer Mania' craze that will sweep into Utsunomiya. 

Ub and Miami will meet in a Pool A blockbuster but don't discount Sansar MMC Energy (MGL), who are led by walking bucket Anand Ariunbold fresh off his heroics at the FIBA 3x3 Asia Cup 2023. 

 

Ariunbold and teammate Enkhbaatar Onolbaatar are not the only Mongolian Asia Cup gold medallists in Utsunomiya with Ulaanbaatar MMC Energy (MGL) boasting MVP Delgernyam Davaasambuu aka 'The Bull'. 

 

But he'll need to be stronger than a sumo wrestler to help Ulaanbaatar get past No.2 seed Raudondvaris Hoptrans (LTU) - the artist formerly known as Sakiai Gulbele. 

You'll recognize their familiar names with Aurelijus Pukelis and Marijus Uzupis set to again unleash their deadly one-two punch. 

It won't be a two-horse race in Pool B with Partizan (SRB) looming as a dark horse contender having finished second at last year's Prague Masters. 

New-look Riga (LAT) headline Pool C with the Latvians this season without superheroes Karlis Lasmanis and Nauris Miezis, but don't worry because they have signed speedy Miroslav Pasajlic and talented Chinese 25-year-old Xingrui Wu.

Riga's new era will face an early test against the always consistent Amsterdam HiPRO (NED), who have been beefed up by excitement machine Worthy de Jong. 

 

Don't sleep on in-form Utsunomiya BREX (JPN), who enter their home event with swagger after upsetting the loaded field at the FIBA 3x3 Ulaanbaatar Super Quest 2023. 

Pool D is highlighted by a mouth-watering clash between Vienna (AUT) and Antwerp TOPdesk (BEL), who have both made some changes but still will be stacked with talent. 

The match-up between Vienna's Quincy Diggs - the top-ranked player in the USA - and defensive menace Dennis Donkor will be worth the wait. 

 

The fourth team in Pool D will emerge from the qualifying draw between Yokohama BeefmanEXE (JPN), Sydney CLBEXE (AUS) and Rosedale SwishEXE (NZL). 

FIBA