3 Aug 2018
SZOLNOK (FIBA 3x3 U18 Europe Cup) - The Hungarian city of Szolnok will host their 3rd FIBA 3x3 U18 Europe Cup Qualifier on August 4-5.
A total of 18 teams from 15 countries will compete for 6 tickets to the fourth edition of the FIBA 3x3 U18 Europe Cup, which will be held in Debrecen, Hungary, on August 31- September 2.
In the men's category, the 10 teams are divided in 2 pools of 5 teams each. The pool winners qualify directly and the teams ranked 2nd and 3rd in their pool play a semi-final against the teams ranked 3rd and 2nd respectively in the other pool. The winners of these 2 semi-finals play another game for the last ticket to Debrecen. If Hungary (as hosts of the final) reach and wins a semi-final, winner of the other semi-final is qualified for the U18 Europe Cup.
The Hungary qualifier might be the best of the 3 of them as it features last year qualifier winner´s Estonia, last year 3x3 u18 World Cup and Europe Cup silver medallists Netherlands, 3x3 powerhouses Serbia and Spain, who feature one of the best U18 players in the whole country, Alexei Pérez. One of them will be out of the 3x3 U18 Europe Cup 2018.
In the women's category, teams are divided into 2 pools of 4. The pool winners qualify directly and the teams ranked 2nd and 3rd in their pool play a semi-final against the teams ranked 3rd and 2nd respectively in the other pool. The winners of these 2 semi-finals play another game for the last ticket to Debrecen. If Hungary (as hosts of the final) reach and wins a semi-final, winner of the other semi-final is qualified for the U18 Europe Cup.
Hosts Hungary will bring the crowd to their feet at the qualifier. Not to mention last year's silver medalists Russia, Germany, who brings back scoring machine Emma Eichmeyer; Poland, who finished 4th last year or 3x3 powerhouse Ukraine.
The Hungarian hosts will be joined by the top 3 teams from Szolnok and the top 4 teams from the Bari and Voiron Qualifiers in the women's edition.
The event will be livestreamed on FIBA3x3's YouTube channel.
Twelve men's teams and 12 women's teams will play in Debrecen. Last year, Hungary (women) and Belgium (men) won the competition.
FIBA