1 Jun 2016
ASTANA (2016 FIBA 3x3 U18 World Championships) - A total of seven teams finished undefeated on the inaugural day at the 2016 FIBA 3x3 U18 World Championships in Astana, Kazakhstan on 1 June. Flavio Gay (Italy's men) and Sára Krumpholcová (Czech Republic's women) were outstanding. Here's our wrap-up.
Team of the Day: Argentina (men)
The Albiceleste quickly established itself as a title favourite after defeating China (21-17) and Andorra (19-10). Lautaro Berra is long (2.08m) and Tomas Cavallero has a nice lefty stroke but the strong Santiago Ibarra and the versatile Jorge Quercetti led Argentina in scoring on Day 1 (14pts each).
More 2-0 clean records: Georgia, Italy (men); Czech Republic, Hungary, Spain, New Zealand (women)
Game of the Day: Kazakhstan - Romania (17-12)
For their first appearance at the FIBA 3x3 U18 World Championships last year, Kazakhstan did not win a single game. In other words, a face-off with 2015 quarter-finalists Romania seemed like a brutal way to start the event. And then all four Kazakh players started connecting from behind the arc and bring the crowd to its feet.
Player of the Day: Flavio Gay (Italy)
To all those thinking there was no room for such a lightweight in 3x3, the 1.85m, 67kg playmaker responded with strong drives to the basket, teardrops and a couple of bombs from behind the arc. He finished the day as leading scorer in the men's category.
Stat of the Day: Sára Krumpholcová (17 points in 7 minutes)
"She's on fire, hotter than Daenerys Targaryen", our commentator Kyle Montgomery said during the game. The Czech rising star scored 7 times from behind the arc against Venezuela for a total of 17 points. She added 7 in her second match against Germany and is the undisputed top scorer in the women's category.
Individual Contest: Skills Contest
They qualified for the final (Saturday 4 June): Veronika Kányási (Hungary), Julia Niemojewski (Poland), Nadine Selaawi (Egypt) and Nathaly Pinelo (Guatemala)
Head-to-head schedule for final: Kányási vs Pinelo and Niemojewski vs Selaawi
Video Highlights
Relive Day 1
Day 2: 1.30-9.00pm on youtube.com/FIBA3x3 including reigning champs New Zealand's men and France's women debuts and the shoot-out qualifier.
FIBA