At the Master Tournament in Amsterdam, two Serbian powerhouses, Ub and Liman, once again showcased their consistency and skill. In the semifinals, Stojacic’s Ub faced a formidable Lithuanian team, Raudondvaris, who recently claimed back-to-back victories at the Sansar Challenger in Mongolia and the Zigui Yichang Challenger in China. The Lithuanian center, Aurelijus Pukelis, an Olympic bronze medalist, was expected to pose the biggest challenge to the Serbian squad. However, Ub’s solid defense contained him, with Nenad Nerandžić’s blocks discouraging Raudondvaris from attacking the paint.

The crowd was treated to an exhilarating performance when “Doctor Strange” delivered two consecutive dunks, followed by a precise three-pointer to extend Ub’s lead. The Lithuanian team tried to close the gap with long-range shots, but Ub’s superior teamwork sealed their place in the final with a confident 22:16 victory.

Liman Battles Riffa in a Tight Semifinal

Liman’s semifinal clash with Riffa from Bahrain started off slowly, with both teams struggling to find their rhythm. That was until Stefan Kojic took control, drilling long-range shots and making aggressive drives, giving Liman a crucial edge three minutes before the end. Riffa fought hard, but even their dunk attempts failed to fall. A buzzer-beating three-pointer wasn’t enough, and Liman advanced to the final by the narrowest of margins, 18:17.

An All-Serbian Final: Ub vs. Liman

Once again, Serbian fans experienced a mix of pride and tension as two teams from the same country met in the final. The Balkans continue to dominate 3×3 basketball on the international stage.

Liman entered the final riding high on their recent victory at the Tianjin Challenger, where they never crossed paths with Ub. From the first seconds, Stefan Kojic attempted to assert his dominance with a deep three-pointer, but “Doctor Strange” denied him with a spectacular block. Despite the setback, the Novi Sad-based team fought back with incredible shots from Kojic, undeterred even by fouls. Mihailo Vasic and Dušan Popović contributed with efficient drives to the basket, helping Liman gain momentum.

However, Ub’s cohesive play gave them a slim lead, 19:18, with just one minute remaining. Liman hesitated to take a decisive three-pointer, and in the following possession, Strahinja Stojacic sealed the deal with a clutch basket, clinching the 22:18 victory. Ub emerged as the champion of the Amsterdam Masters, once again proving their supremacy in 3×3 basketball.

Foto: FIBA 3×3