Everything you need to know about FIBA 3x3 World Tour Shanghai Masters 2023

SHANGHAI (China) - Buckle up because the first-ever Shanghai Masters is going to light up the FIBA 3x3 World Tour on October 14-15.

Here is all the important information you need before the 12th Masters of 2023.

Where can I watch the Shanghai Masters?

The action runs from October 14-15, and you can follow it live on the FIBA 3x3 YouTube, and Sina Weibo pages.

Who is competing in Shanghai?

This loaded draw has a total of 12 squads: Vienna, Liman Huishan NE, Beijing, Partizan, Ulaanbaatar MMC Energy, Futian, Wuxi, Utrecht, Omaha, Saitama ALPHAS EXE, Antananarivo, Shinagawa CC EXE 

What are the pools?  

 

Who are the favorites?

We have to start with the most recent Masters champs - Vienna (AUT), who got on the board in 2023 with a memorable triumph in Amsterdam. 

They are the only team in this draw who have tasted the ultimate success on this season's World Tour and there will be a long line of teams hoping to break their drought. 

 

Second seeds Liman Huishan NE (SRB) were runners-up in Macau but this legendary team expects dubs and they'll lean on sniper Stefan Kojic and big fella Mihailo Vasic to get them the W.

The loud fans in Shanghai will be cheering for the Chinese teams with Beijing, Futian and Wuxi all expected to go deep into the tournament. 

Partizan (SRB) have gone up a level since unleashing the spectacular Stefans - Milivojevic and Torbica. A Masters victory would really signal their arrival amongst the best teams in the business. 

 

And we can't forget Ulaanbaatar MMC Energy (MGL), who are still dreaming of a historic first triumph on the World Tour.

They can turn those dreams into reality if Delgernyam Davaasambuu plays bully ball and Steve Sir creates a typhoon in Shanghai.  

Who are the players to watch?

Shanghai is one glitzy location. So much so that James Bond was there in Skyfall. Assassins of the 3x3 variety will journey to Shanghai led by Nauris Miezis, who has hit some of the biggest daggers in 3x3 history. 

And we're not going to disregard Thibaut Vervoort, who has been a bit down on form for his new team Futian but we know he's an absolute gunner. 

It's taken us too long to get to the reigning Masters MVP - Quincy Diggs who is out to go back-to-back and cement his standing as a certified bucket getter. 

 

You want some dunkers, you just have to watch closely - Nesta Agasi from Utrecht who is ready to put defenders in body bags. 

Speaking of emerging stars, we've got several others ready to make a splash.

We can't wait to see James Parrott, Petar Sucur and Elly Randriamampionona pour in buckets from all over the half-court in this exciting new World Tour destination. 

FIBA