The second day of the FIBA 3×3 World Tour Final took place in Hong Kong, where fans eagerly awaited the highly anticipated Serbian derby. By the draw’s outcome, Pool A gathered all three top Serbian teams—Ub Huishan NE, Partizan Meta Force, and Liman.
The derby began with a showdown between Ub Huishan NE and Liman. The reigning champions Ub secured a decisive victory, showcasing an incredible shooting percentage. Missing only three shots from distance (6/9) and maintaining perfect accuracy from close range (7/7), they doubled their opponent’s score, finishing 22:11.
What followed was unexpected. Partizan Meta Force staged a relentless hunt against Ub Huishan NE, chasing them through the first seven minutes of the game. With his aim locked in, Stefan Milivojevic delivered precise and composed long-distance shots. His 4/5 performance from beyond the arc made him the game’s top scorer. Bogdan Dragovic and Stefan Torbica supported the Gladiator’s sharpshooting with one successful two-pointer each. Milos Supica executed his role under the rim with minimal errors, effectively utilizing his power.
Partizan Meta Force’s victory over Ub Huishan NE with a score of 22:19 became a strong statement in the FIBA 3×3 Final Masters.
However, Partizan Meta Force’s path to the quarterfinals was not without hurdles. In their game against Liman, they suffered a narrow defeat. Yet, due to earning more points than Liman, they advanced to the third day of the competition.
Before this match, Partizan Meta Force had only managed to defeat Liman once, while their opponent had won three times. Veteran Stefan Kojic quickly capitalized on his strongest skill. His precise two-pointers secured Liman an early six-point lead. However, Liman also took the lead in fouls, limiting their defensive play and allowing Partizan to reduce the deficit through free throws.
Two accurate long-distance shots by Stefan Milivojevic brought the Belgrade team closer to victory, but excellent late-game play by Aleksa Stojanovic, including a crucial steal, allowed Liman to claim another win over Partizan. Nevertheless, Liman’s crushing loss to Ub Huishan NE meant Stefan Kojic’s team lacked the points to advance to the tournament’s second day.
Apart from the Serbian teams, Mongolian basketball players from Ulaanbaatar MMC Energy surprised fans in their game against Amsterdam. The Netherlands led the score throughout the game but lost their advantage in the final seconds. Steve Sir needed just six seconds to grab the rebound after Worthy de Jong’s miss, take the ball beyond the arc, fake a shot, and sink a long-range basket. The Mongolian team snatched a 19:17 victory. However, they failed to advance to the quarterfinals.
The final list of teams advancing from the group stage is as follows: Ub Huishan NE, Amsterdam, Princeton, Raudondvaris Hoptrans, Miami, Paris, Riffa, and Partizan Meta Force.
Foto: FIBA 3×3
