Must watch pool phase games at FIBA 3x3 World Cup 2023
VIENNA (Austria) - The biggest event of the year is inching closer with a slew of mouth-watering pool games highly anticipated at the FIBA 3x3 World Cup 2023 on May 30-June 4.
The marquee event in Austria's historic capital of Vienna will boast four pools of five teams for both men's and women's categories.
There will be 40 teams - 20 per gender - competing in the eighth edition of the showpiece event, where there is added incentive with the medallists qualifying for the Olympic Qualifying Tournament for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
Click HERE to download the PDF FIBA 3x3 World Cup 2023 - Schedule
With just three months left, let's get you hyped with the must watch games from the pool phase.
USA v Canada women's Pool C (May 30; 1pm local)
Make sure you mark the calendars because this blockbuster battle between North American heavyweights might just be a gold medal preview.
They are the top two ranked teams in their zone, but Canada have overtaken the Olympic gold medallist after a memorable 2022 where they won the FIBA 3x3 AmeriCup 2022 and FIBA 3x3 Women's Series 2022.
Canada also finished with the silver medal at the FIBA 3x3 World Cup 2022 and will be determined to go one step better this time around.
Drake's country proved too good for mighty USA on the big stage and knocked-out their rival in the quarter-finals at the World Cup before winning an epic semi-final at the AmeriCup to take down the defending champs.
USA will be eyeing revenge but they'll likely have to deal with No.1 ranked Michelle Plouffe who had all the answers last year.
Spain v France women's Pool A ( May 30; 7:20pm )
The European powers always bring it against each other and there have been numerous classics over the years.
This epic rivalry went up a level last year when France won an OT quarter-final classic 15-14 en route to the title before enjoying a more comfortable semi-final W at the FIBA 3x3 Europe Cup 2022 on the way to another triumph.
Spain will have stewed over those painful defeats and you just know this proud team will be doing everything it can to make an early statement against the world champs.
Serbia v France men's Pool A (May 30; 10:05pm)
Serbia's men have absolutely dominated the World Cup with five of the seven titles in history.
But the depth in 3x3 is getting deeper with many teams hoping to take down the champs, including France who have loads of talent and finished with the bronze medal at last year's World Cup.
The teams met during the pool phase last year but Serbia flexed their muscles to record a convincing victory. France, however, loom as a tougher challenge on this occasion and we can't wait to see how the champs respond.
USA v Latvia men's Pool B (May 31; 5:10pm)
These two powers share history and most notably squared off at the FIBA 3x3 World Cup 2019 final, where USA won their first-ever gold medal.
Both teams always boast some of the biggest and best players in 3x3 with the likelihood of stars such as Karlis Lasmanis, Nauris Miezis, Kareem Maddox and newcomer Jimmer Fredette likely to battle it out for supremacy.
We can't wait to see how this plays out!
France v Austria women's Pool A (June 1; 9:40 pm)
You want a lit atmosphere than this game is must watch. Austria will be underdogs but they'll be aided by a major weapon - the rowdy support of their 3x3-loving compatriots.
Austria should feel confident of an upset having pushed eventual champs France during the pool phase at last year's World Cup before falling short 16-10.
Austria v USA men's Pool B (June 2; 9:20 pm)
This is going to be absolutely electric between host Austria and hoops power USA.
The Austrians are much improved in recent years while USA will boast their usual stars as they aim for revenge having been bounced during last year's quarter-finals by Lithuania.
These two teams played an epic at last year's pool phase with scores level at 17 before Kidani Brutus went bang, bang to end Austria's challenge.
Expect more action than a Schwarzenegger film when these two teams go at it.
FIBA