Unstoppable Ub Huishan NE hot favorites at FIBA 3x3 Ulaanbaatar Challenger 2023
ULAANBAATAR (Mongolia) - All-conquering Ub Huishan NE (SRB) will be aiming to continue their red-hot start to the season at the FIBA 3x3 Ulaanbaatar Challenger 2023 on June 16-17.
In a loaded field, 14 teams will be eyeing the title while fighting for the prized three tickets available for the Lausanne Masters, which is the seventh stop on this year's FIBA 3x3 World Tour.
Let's preview all the action.
The Favorites
You know the drill - we're starting with the No.1 seeds and with good reason after Ub won the Utsunomiya Opener and Manila Masters in an incredible start to 2023, where Ub are 10 out of 10 so far.
They have never looked better with brilliant trio Strahinja Stojacic, Dejan Majstorovic and Marko Brankovic also teaming up to lead Serbia to a title defence at the FIBA 3x3 World Cup 2023.
Stojacic has been at the center of the 3x3 universe with 'Doctor Strange' collecting MVPs in all three of those events to be undoubtedly the best player in the game.
But standing in their way might just be Futian (CHN), who have lived up to the hype after recruiting stars Dimeo van der Horst and Thibaut Vervoort.
The new Chinese powers took it up to Ub in an unforgettable final in Manila and a rematch could well be on the cards with Futian's deadly duo reunited.
No.2 seeds Antwerp TOPdesk (BEL) will look a little bit differently in Ulaanbaatar, but Nick Celis has a chance to take the lead role so expect 'Clark Kent' to put his cape on.
No.3 seeds Riga (LAT) are always formidable and their chemistry should go up a level having had some time to incorporate ex-Liman star Miroslav Pasajlic.
We also just have to include Mongolian teams Ulaanbaatar MMC Energy and Sansar MMC Energy, who are both poised to reach the top tier on the pro circuit.
Expect snipers Steve Sir and Anand Ariunbold - who is so good we have coined him 'The Archer' - to create a typhoon in Ulaanbaatar.
The Field
American crowd pleasers NY Harlem (USA) have steadily improved and showed signs of their former livewire act, which made them long-time fan favorites.
They'll have dynamic duo Dominique Jones - you probably know him as 'Disco Domo' - and Kidani Brutus but the New Yorkers have a tough clash with Toronto KBA (CAN) in a game that might determine who gets out of Pool B.
Toronto also sure knows how to entertain with high-flyer Bikramjit Gill one of the best in-game dunkers 3x3 has ever seen.
Lithuanian teams Marijampole Mantinga and Kaunas VDU have been drawn to play one another with the winner likely to progress through to Day Two.
Pools
Pool A: Ub Huishan NE (SRB), Marijampole Mantinga (LTU), Kaunas VDU (LTU)
Pool B: Antwerp TOPdesk (BEL), NY Harlem (USA), Toronto KBA (CAN)
Pool C: Riga (LAT), Futian (CHN), Lublin Lotto (POL)
Pool D: Ulaanbaatar MMC Energy (MGL), Sansar MMC Energy (MGL), Qualifier
What's at stake
The top 3 teams in Ulaanbaatar will qualify for the Lausanne Masters on August 18-19, 2023, as part of the FIBA 3x3 World Tour.
How to watch
The two-day extravaganza is on June 16-17 and you can follow it live on the FIBA 3x3 YouTube and Facebook pages.
FIBA