Amsterdam HiPRO win FIBA 3x3 World Tour Hong Kong Masters 2023
HONG KONG (China) - Amsterdam HiPRO (NED) won their first World Tour Masters since 2021 with a 17 - 21 victory over Raudondvaris Hoptrans at the FIBA 3x3 World Tour Hong Kong Masters 2023 on November 26.
The Dutch side came through with the victory after a grueling path to the final. They went 2-0 in the pool phase with wins over Jeddah and Lausanne before getting it done against the American sides of Princeton and Omaha.
In the final, they took on the experienced and ever-so-clutch Raudondvaris who had beaten Giants on their way to the final, including 6-Masters winners Ub.
Amsterdam, led by Worthy De Jong, showcased their urgency early as he boasted his defensive chops with a steal and dime for Julian Jaring. Driessen followed quickly with an and-one finish to extend the team advantage. Worthy drained a two to make it 2 - 5 to the Dutchmen. Not to be outdone, Paulius Beliavicius struck back with a deep shot of his own.
The game continued its back-and-forth exchange, with the Lithuanian side taking the lead at certain points thanks to Aurelijus Pukelis taking on the offensive charge. Driessen and De Jong combined well to keep the pace while Arvin Slagter supported with crucial buckets of his own, the most important one coming with the score 13 - 15 to grant his side the 4-point lead. It opened the floodgates as De Jong and Driessen drained buckets to make it 15 - 20. Jaring had the last word as his drive and floater iced the game, finishing 17 - 21 in favor of Amsterdam.
Worthy De Jong all season has been immense for his side. It all came together in Hong Kong. He finished as top scorer with 46 while also leading in Player Value with 43.4. His defensive effort coupled with an on-fire offensive display made him undeniably the MVP of the event.
In the Individual contests, Ignas Razutis (Plunge) won the Mongolian Mining Corporation Shoot-Out Contest while Wan Lei (CHN) won the Maurice Lacroix dunk contest.
FINAL STANDINGS
1. Amsterdam HiPRO (NED)
2. Raudondvaris Hoptrans (LTU)
3. Ub Huishan NE (SRB)
4. Omaha (USA)
5. Lausanne Sport LS (SUI)
6. Paris (FRA)
7. Ulaanbaatar MMC Energy (MGL)
8. Princeton (USA)
9. Plunge (LTU)
10. Antwerp TOPDesk (BEL)
11. Hangzhou (CHN)
12. Jeddah (KSA)
13. Podgorica Kodio (MNE)
14. Zagreb 3BL (CRO)
15. Wu Kai Sha (HKG)
16. North Jakarta Tokopedia (INA)
It all comes down to the World Tour Final, taking place in Jeddah on December 8 - 9.
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Exciting, urban and innovative, 3x3 is inspired by several forms of streetball played worldwide and is considered the world’s number one urban team sport. Steered by FIBA, games see two teams of three players face off on a basketball half-court.
It was played successfully for the first time in international competition at the 2010 Youth Olympic Games in Singapore and since then has benefited from the launch of a yearly professional circuit for men and women (World Tour and Women’s Series respectively) and national-team competitions.
3x3 made its Olympic debut at the Tokyo 2020 Games.
Wilson is the Global Ball Partner. Maurice Lacroix the Official Timekeeper and Chooks-to-Go the Global Partner of the FIBA 3x3 World Tour 2023.
FIBA 3x3 events are played on Enlio floors with Wilson balls, Schelde backstops, Bodet shot-clocks and the Magic Sky canopy system.
For further information about 3x3, visit fiba3x3.basketball, FIBA 3x3 accounts on Douyin, Facebook, Instagram, Sina Weibo, Tencent, TikTok, Twitch, Twitter, Youku and YouTube or contact 3x3@fiba.basketball.