PR N°35: Kranj win FIBA 3x3 World Tour Prague Masters

9 Aug 2015

PRAGUE (2015 FIBA 3x3 World Tour) - Team Kranj was the last team standing at the 2015 FIBA 3x3 World Tour Prague Masters, in an event filled with surprises. The Slovenian team - which reached the semi-finals of the last two editions of the World Tour - defeated a giant-killing Kolobrzeg (POL) in the final (18-11) in the unique scenery of Wenceslas Square, a UNESCO World Heritage site on 8-9 August 2015.

29-year-old Mensud Julevic was key for Kranj in the final, scoring 10 points, including three shots from behind the arc. Jure Erzen patrolled the paint and contributed six points. Both became the first players to compete in all four editions of the World Tour (together with Trbovlje's Adin Kavgic and Simon Finzgar).

Kolobrzeg fell short in the final but claimed back-to-back upsets of #2 seed Trbovlje (SLO) in the quarter-finals and in the semi-finals, Paris (FRA), who had previously knocked out reigning champs Novi Sad Al Wahda (UAE). The team features three brothers and the middle one Szymon Rduch (25) was sensational on the second and final day of competition, winning the Head & Shoulders Shoot-Out Contest, topping the scoring charts with 30 points and winning MVP honours.

In the Street Sport Line Dunk Contest, Ukrainian professional dunker Dmitry 'Smoove' Krivenko wowed the crowd with a series of slams combining tricks and mighty finish.

Kranj took home the US $10,000 winning prize while Kolobrzeg won US $4,000. Both teams qualified for the FIBA 3x3 World Tour Final, which is hosted in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates on 15-16 October.

Final Standings of the 2015 FIBA 3x3 World Tour Prague Masters:
1. Kranj (SLO)
2. Kolobrzeg (POL)
3. Paris (FRA)
4. Belgrade (SRB)
5. Trbovlje (SLO)
6. Leningrad (RUS)
7. Novi Sad Al Wahda (UAE)
8. Ub (SRB)
9. Psychiko (GRE)
10. Amsterdam (NED)
11. Ostrava (CZE)
12. Cremona (ITA)

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ABOUT FIBA 3X3

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 benefitted from the launch of a yearly city-based FIBA 3x3 World Tour (www.fiba.basketball/3x3worldtour) and national-team world championships.

Nike is FIBA 3x3's Founding Partner.

FIBA 3x3 events are played on Sport Court's floors with Schelde backstops and benefit from Wilson's innovative and specially-made ball for 3x3.

For further information about 3x3, visit fiba.com/3x3, FIBA3x3 accounts on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube or contact 3x3@fiba.com.