Valuable Nanjing Masters spots up for grabs at loaded Edmonton 3x3 Challenger

EDMONTON (Canada) - There will be a dogfight for two invaluable Nanjing Masters tickets at the loaded Edmonton Challenger on September 28-29, 2019.

There are just two more Masters events left before the Utsunomiya Final in November and only six of the 12 places for the prestigious World Tour finale have been confirmed.

Hosts Edmonton (CAN) are currently seventh on the World Tour standings and will be aiming for a strong showing in front of their home fans. They raise their game when playing in Canada having finished runners-up at the Montreal Masters earlier this month.

 

World No.1 Novi Sad (SRB) have top billing in Edmonton and will be aiming to rebound after a semi-final exit at the Los Angeles Masters, powered by L.A. Times 2019.

After blitzing through last year's World Tour, the Serbian powerhouse have remained the team to beat but it's been far tougher this season underlining the greater depth of 3x3 talent.

Novi Sad have not made the final of a Masters in their last four attempts, but should be confident of going all the way in Edmonton being at full-strength.

North American teams have limited the dominance of Eastern Europe highlighted by NY Harlem (USA) and Princeton (USA) becoming powerhouses. NY Harlem won their first-ever Masters title in Lausanne and have dominated the Challenger circuit culminating in being victorious in Kaohsiung City last weekend.

Princeton have the swagger after taking out the Los Angeles Masters, powered by L.A. Times 2019. It was a triumph made even more impressive having been without superstar Robbie Hummel, who withdrew due to injury just days before the tournament.

Hummel is back to strengthen Princeton's already formidable line-up, which also boasts L.A MVP Kareem Maddox who dominated the air in La La Land.

A team to watch will be No.6 seeds Jeddah (KSA) who have started to make an impact in recent months. They reached the semi-finals at the Debrecen Masters and impressed in LA before falling to Princeton in the quarters.

Eleven of the top 29 ranked teams – including five of the top 11 - in the world will compete in the 16-team tournament, including four from hosts Canada. The winner in Edmonton takes home $15,000 USD and there is $32,000 overall in prize money - a significant increase from $20,000 in challengers last year.

The two top teams – other than already qualified NY Harlem - earn tickets for the Nanjing Masters on October 12-13 in the 10th stop on this season's FIBA 3x3 World Tour.

World No.3 Riga Ghetto (LAT), Amsterdam (NED) and New York City (USA) have also qualified for Nanjing.

Follow the Edmonton Challenger live on the official FIBA 3x3 YouTube channel.

 

 

FIBA