4 Sept 2017
DEBRECEN (FIBA 3x3 U18 Europe Cup 2017) - Belgium's men and Hungary's women struck gold in the third edition of the FIBA 3x3 U18 Europe Cup in Debrecen, Hungary on September 1-3 2017.
Just two months after claiming gold at the FIBA 3x3 U18 World Cup in Chengdu, China, Belgium completed an impressive double in the Debrecen Sportcentrum after rain prevented the event to continue on the iconic Kossuth Square on the final day of competition.
Just like in China, Belgium dominated the Netherlands in the final (19-13). Sam Hofman had a game-high 8 points and MVP Vincent Peeters added 5. The U18 World Cup MVP Ayoub Nouhi also contributed 5 points, including 2 emphatic dunks.
After scoring an unbelievable game-winner at the buzzer in the semi-finals against France, tournament top scorer Maik Bouwer was limited to just 3 points in the final. He still found a spot on the Team of the Tournament alongside Peeters and Thomas Pottier, who was unstoppable for France in a bronze-medal game win against Spain (21-9).
In the women's category, Hungary brought the spectators to their feet after defeating Russia in the final (12-9).
At just 16 years of age, Hungary rising star Orsolya Toth co-led all scorers in Debrecen and was named MVP of the tournament. She was held to just 3 points but scored a game-changing two-pointer in the last minute of the game.
In the bronze-medal game, the Netherlands defeated the underdogs of the competition, Poland. Poland star Wiktoria Keller was tied with Toth at first place in the scoring charts and joined her and Russia star Yulia Zarubina on the Team of the Tournament.
The Netherlands and Hungary are both members of the FIBA 3x3 Fast Track, an ambitious 3x3 development program created by FIBA to identify and train the future 3x3 Olympians.
In the shoot-out contest, Russia's Yulia Zarubina struck gold after scoring 11 points. Belgium's Lieve Lukusa won silver and Ukraine's Vitalii Shorstkiy took home the bronze medal.
Final Standings:
Men
1. Belgium
2. Netherlands
3. France
4. Spain
5. Serbia
6. Italy
7. Estonia
8. Israel
9. Romania
10 Ukraine
11. Hungary
12. Czech Republic
Women
1. Hungary
2. Russia
3. Netherlands
4. Poland
5. France
6. Belgium
7. Italy
8. Czech Republic
9. Spain
10. Ukraine
11. Latvia
12. Israel
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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 benefited from the launch of a yearly city-based FIBA 3x3 World Tour (www.fiba.basketball/3x3worldtour) and national-team FIBA 3x3 World Cup.
On June 9 2017, 3x3 was addded to the Olympic Program, starting from the Tokyo 2020 Games.
Nike is FIBA 3x3's Founding Partner.
FIBA 3x3 events are played on Sport Court's floors with Schelde backstops and Magic Sky canopies, and benefit from Wilson's innovative and specially-made ball for 3x3.
For further information about 3x3, visit fiba3x3.com, FIBA 3x3 accounts on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube or contact 3x3@fiba.com.