FIBA Asia 3x3 Championships

13/03/2014

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24/05/2013

FA U18 3x3: Interesting, intriguing contests on the cards on Final Day

Complete results
Group Standings
Photo Gallery


Quarterfinal line-up for Friday
Top half (winners meet in semifinals)
China Vs. Thailand
Philippines Vs. Japan
Bottom half (winners meet in semifinal)
India Vs. Lebanon
Syria Vs. Hong Kong

BANGKOK, Thailand (1st FIBA Asia 3x3 U18 Championship for Boys and Girls): Two out of the eight quarterfinalists went beyond the routine equations before making the cut, thus setting stage for an interesting, intriguing and intense Final day of action as the playoffs loomed large in the boys competition in the 1st FIBA Asia 3x3 U18 Championship for Boys and Girls on Thursday.

Philippines and Syria along with Qatar and Chinese Taipei were involved in a four-cornered contest for the two places in Group B – with the managers alternating between the technical table and shouting instructions to their teams faster the swings of a pendulum – before Philippines and Syria finished in a tie for the two places. The SEABA nation, one of the more compact teams in the competition, however went on to finish on top of the pool by virtue of their win against Syria.

Japan who had suffered a shocking defeat to Hong Kong on the opening day came back strongly winning both their games – by whiskers – and cruised into quarterfinals.

Hong Kong in Group C and Lebanon in Group D meanwhile went about their business winning all the four games on their plate as China too remained unbeaten in Group A on their way to the quarterfinals.

“It’s an excellent stage. Nobody can guess the outcome of the playoffs. Such is the equal level of the playing field,” said Hong Kong coach Chu Ka Chun.

Hong Kong continue to remain the dark horses in this competition, having made the play-offs for the first time in recent memory in FIBA Asia competitions.

If the dark horses can go all the way, which certainly won’t surprise those who watched them play at the Bangkok Youth Center, remains to be seen.

FIBA Asia

24/05/2013

FA U18 3x3: Thailand girls land a double treat for the hosts

Complete results
Group Standings
Photo Gallery


Quarterfinal line-up for Friday
Top half (winners meet in semifinals)
India Vs. Indonesia
Philippines Vs. Thailand
Bottom half (winners meet in semifinal)
Thailand 1
Syria Vs. Hong Kong

BANGKOK, Thailand (1st FIBA Asia 3x3 U18 Championship for Boys and Girls): Thongchai Vatanasakdakul, the BSAT Secretary General forgot his role as the LOC chief executive for some moments and donned his former garb as a coach busy calculating things in a jiffy in an animated moment during Day 2 of the 1st FIBA Asia 3x3 U18 Championship for Boys and Girls on Thursday.

At the end of it though, the creases in the eyebrows had transformed into a beaming smile as the genial and hard-working man found that both the Thailand teams had made the cut for the quarterfinals in the girls competition.

Thailand 1 didn’t have any such trouble in going through to the last eight finishing second to India in Group A, but the other team known plainly as Thailand went through some moments of anxiety before making the playoffs.

The primary reason for the anxiety was Thailand’s defeat at the hands of Chinese Taipei, who had earlier lost to fellow East Asian team Hong Kong. Thailand had beaten Hongkong thus causing a three-way tie between three for the top two places – all having beaten Vietnam.

And in the tie-breaker that ensued Thailand (with a goal average of +1) finished second to Taipei (+1.19) and ahead of Hong Kong’s +0.85.

“It’s worth all the trouble of hosting the event to see the two teams make the grade. Anything can happen in the quarterfinals, but the primary aim was to qualify for the Final Day,” Vatanasakdakul said heaving a sigh of relief.

Thailand are drawn to take on fellow SEABA team Philippines and Thailand 1 against the all-conquering China, but Vatanasakdakul chose not to predict any outcome.

“I think we will give a tough fight to any opposition. I am confident of that. Win or lose doesn’t matter,” he said.

Philippines, who surprisingly dropped a game against Syria, too were involved in a two-way tie with Malaysia for the top position in Group B but prevailed by virtue of their head-to-head record. Malaysia take on Taipei.

India and China, on the other hand, came through the second day’s proceedings without much ado and as the only two unbeaten teams in the girls’ competition, thus setting course for a possible clash in the gold medal game.

FIBA Asia

24/05/2013

BANGKOK, Thailand (1st FIBA Asia 3x3 U18 Championship for Boys and Girls): Hong Kong Boys emerged as an ideal advertisement for the 3xe campaign on the opening day of the competition at the Bangkok Youth Center in the 1st FIBA Asia 3x3 U18 Championship for Boys and Girls on Wednesday winning all their three games in Prelim Round Group C, which set the ball rolling to expect more.

China in Group A, Syria in Group B and hosts Thailand in Group D too won all their games for the day – two apiece – but it was the boys from Hong Kong who caused a major ripple.

Starting off with a shock win over fancied fellow East Asian team Japan reaching 21 points with a 1:30 to spare in the game, Hong Kong continued their spree taking Vietnam in their stride and rounding off the day beating Kazakhstan.

“The boys showed a lot of faith in themselves,” said Hong Kong coach Chu Ka Chun.

“We came in here without any expectations. Beating Japan was a pleasant surprise. From there on, we just let things grow. The boys also grew in confidence,” he added.

“We hope to carry forward the momentum now and aim for a medal. With the way things are going, it’s a possibility,” he said.

China fielded Liu Bo, one of the more accomplished juniors in the FIBA Asia circuit – a member of the gold medal winning team at the 2nd FIBA Asia U16 Championship at Nha Trang City (Vietnam) in 2011 – and looked robust as ever in bulldozing their opponents.

Syria were more compact as were Thailand playing well within themselves rather than anything flashy of flamboyant.

Chinese Taipei and Philippines played out an entertaining see-saw battle and took their contest into Overtime before Kobe Paras burnt the netting with a sizzler from downtown to clinch the issue.

That result left things in Group B in a very tantalizing position with the possibility of calculators being pulled out before deciding the quarterfinalists from this Group. That should keep the interest more than alive on Day 2.

FIBA Asia

24/05/2013

BANGKOK, Thailand (1st FIBA Asia 3x3 U18 Championship for Boys and Girls): Girls from India and Philippines caught the imagination of the discerning at the Bangkok Youth Center with their charming, yet contrasting, performances on the opening day of the girls competition in the 1st FIBA Asia 3x3 U18 Championship for Boys and Girls.

India with Poonam Chaturvedi (pic above), the only 200-cm-plus player in fray being the center of all attention scythed their way to winning both their games, while Philippines looked a lot more cohesive and collective in collecting their share of twin wins.

Traditional powerhouses China may have intended to dominate the proceedings, but their campaign began in an anticlimax with Maldives pulling out of the game failing to comply with the uniform regulations.

Therefore it was India who overcame a doughty hosts for their second win in as many games after handing out a 21-4 sweep to Qatar and Philippines with their promising act who proved conspicuous.

“The girls have come with the determination of repeating what the seniors did in Doha,” said India coach Rajesh Patel remembering the gold medal Indian women won at the 1st FIBA Asia 3x3 Championship for Men and Women at Doha last week.

“We have the potential to do so and the way things have begun I am confident of our performance,” he added.

The Filipino quartet took a more composed approach in beating Nepal first and then taking SEABA archrivals Malaysia in their stride.

“We have come here to win the gold,” declared Nicole Cancio one of the more experienced players in the team having played at the 2nd FIBA Asia U16 Championship for Women at Jinan (China) in 2011.

“The format is much faster and needs more energy. That’s why we did what was needed,” she said.

What is needed for Philippines as for all other teams may go to the next higher level in the next two days.

FIBA Asia

21/05/2013

Sawasdee Krup! City of Smiles braces up for FIBA Asia 3x3 fever

BANGKOK, Thailand (1st FIBA Asia 3x3 U18 Championship for Boys and Girls): Everything in Bangkok is about fervor. From the godly Wat Pho to the gaudy Pat Pong night market through the glutinous rice dishes and grand treatments in the massage spas, everything in the Thai capital is a gorgeous celebration of life in different hues and shades. Come Wednesday, it’ll be the turn of the people of Bangkok to be enchanted by a global phenomenon that is creating waves across the sporting world with its latest stop being in the City of Smiles.

Yes, it’s time for FIBA Asia 3x3 to cast its spell on Bangkok adding the overall charm of the city itself. And it’s the turn of Bangkok to add its stamp on the overall colorfulness of the latest form of basketball itself.

Youngsters from 36 different teams, representing 18 countries across FIBA Asia – ranging from Japan in East to Lebanon in the West and Kazakhstan in the North to Maldives in the South – will be on show displaying their wares as bright and sparkling as many other lures of Bangkok.

The inaugural edition of the 1st FIBA Asia 3x3 U18 Championship for Boys and Girls therefore couldn’t gave found a more vibrant and spirited city as a platform to launch the 3x3 movement itself among the youngsters.

Last week witnessed the triumph of Qatar men and Indian women at the 1st FIBA Asia 3x3 Championship for Men and Women at Doha, in one of the most efficiently run FIBA Asia event. But the coming three days will take the newest form of basketball to the next level – sowing the seeds of true participation in sport among the future generation.

Four years ago I was among the fans at the Thai-Japan Youth Center to watch the likes of Elizabeth Cambage (Aus), Nathalie Achonwa (Can), Skylar Diggins (USA) and Zhao Shuang (China) take their first steps towards international superstardom at the 2009 FIBA U19 World Championship for Women. I am sure the next three days I’ll see the birth of many more stars, this time in a format of sport that is destined to rule the world.

S Mageshwaran / FIBA Asia

Photo: Milad Payami / FIBA Asia

19/05/2013

DOHA, Qatar (1st FIBA Asia 3x3 Championships): Indian women who came into the competition as the overwhelming favorites kept their tryst with the gold medal sweeping all opposition that came their way. Carrying forward the form of three successive wins on the opening day, the Indian women with Geethu Anna Jose at the vanguard of their challenge, won the three play-off games without raising much sweat.

Click here for Men’s competition report

Complete results

India won all their three games reaching the 21-point mark with ample time left on the clock in each of their games.

“We achieved what we set out for,” said Jose, who was an overwhelming favorite in the All Stars nominations.

“Things worked out rather well to our satisfaction and each of the team gave their contribution,” she said.

Jose was at the vanguard, but the rest of the Indian members indeed have their share in the victory – first for India at level in any competition in FIBA Asia events. India had won the gold at the Asian Beach Games at Haiyang last year.

Anitha Pauldurai was as crafty as ever in marshalling the resources and puncturing holes in the rival defense with her outside shooting and Manisha Dange gave a good account of herself in her comeback to international competitions with Pratima Singh providing the needed support.

As Pauldurai put it, “it was a team effort that helped India’s win.”

Mongolia and Turkmenistan the other two medalists went through bitter-sweet moments each in the opposite order.

Mongolia were gung-ho on beating Turkmenistan in the semifinals, despite playing with only two players – the other two having ejected four fouls apiece – but when it came to the gold medal game they found the experience and expertise of the Indian line-up a little too hot to handle.

Nevertheless Mongolian women are returning home with their hearts filled with pride.

“It’s not every day that we get an opportunity to celebrate a medal in international basketball,” said the Mongolian team almost in chorus.

Turkmen women on the other hand, were visibly distraught after losing to Mongolia, but their moment of joy for the day in the bronze medal play-off.

Nigyera Nagiyeva’s sizzling long ranger burnt the basket clinching the bronze medal in Overtime after tying at 8-8 at the end of Regulation time against Hong Kong.

FIBA Asia

19/05/2013

DOHA, Qatar (1st FIBA Asia 3x3 Championships): Much has been written about Nepal making its advent in international basketball through the 3x3 format and a conversation with Gyanu Gauchan only amplifies the importance of this format for emerging countries like the Himalayan nation.

“But for 3x3, people wouldn’t have known that we too play basketball. The sport has always been there in Nepal, but we have always struggled to make a name for ourselves,” the 25-year-old Hotel Management from Kathmandu said.

“One of my dreams was to play basketball in international competitions. That has been fulfilled now,” she said adding that “it’s not only for me. But for my entire team.”

Gauchan’s other dream is to see Nepal’s most famous landmark the Mount Everest.

“Yes. I haven’t seen the Mount Everest yet. But being a Nepali I always used to think seeing the Mount Everest or even reaching the base camp was easier than playing basketball for Nepal,” she said.

“I am very thrilled to see what I thought was a more difficult task to achieve happen first before the easier one. I don’t mind waiting for the other one for the rest of my life,” she said.

Nepal have qualified for the quarterfinals, but for Gauchan the participation here is an end by itself.

“Other countries have come here with different targets, goals and aims. For us, coming here was a goal in itself,” she said.

“Having said that, we are giving our best in every game we play. We haven’t won any game so far, but it’s alright. We didn’t think we could reach here in the first place. Now that we have realized our first aim, we will surely start winning sometime soon. May be it’ll happen slowly, but it will surely happen,” she said.

S Mageshwaran / FIBA Asia

19/05/2013

For Lea, donning the Lebanese colors is a dream come true

DOHA, Qatar (1st FIBA Asia 3x3 Championships): Lea Abi Ghosn is your quintessential Lebanese basketball player if nothing else. Dare you to begin the conversation with the Moutahed spearhead saying “you don’t play for the strongest team in the Lebanese circuit.” Pat comes reply: “We may not be the greatest. But we are certainly as strong as any team.”

The passion and fervor with which the 24-year-old approaches anything related to the sport is a sign of her complete dedication to it.

“I am going to pick your brains on the teams. Sorry if I sound irritating,” the U-SEK Phamacology masters student says with a wink.

“The 3x3 has provided us with a great opportunity for the National flag. You know how much we all Lebanese love playing for our National flag. I think for a lot of us our dream has come true through this format of the game,” she went on.

“I think I would have been among the probables for the National Team this year (for the 25th FIBA Asia Championship for Women, where Lebanon will be a part of the elite Level I of the competition), but I am really not sure if the others would have made the cut,” she explained.

“Therefore I think our spirits are really high playing for our country here. And this format is indeed different,” she said.

“We need to work the complete plan for our game much before it starts. We have to plan how we will play each minute of the game. And we need to switch on Plan B with no time even to think. More often than not Plan B has to begin even before we realize Plan A hasn’t worked. That’s the speed of the game here,” she said.

“Our first aim was to qualify. Which happened without much problems,” said Lea after Lebanon came through to the quarterfinals in the four-team Group B.

“Now we’ll take one game at a time. And in this format anything can happen. So we are keeping our fingers crossed,” she said.

S Mageshwaran / FIBA Asia

19/05/2013

Qatar triumph caps an efficient two days for the hosts

DOHA, Qatar (1st FIBA Asia 3x3 Championships): “It’s always fantastic to win in front of your favorite people,” Yasseen Ismail’s words were probably the best way to sum up the relevance and euphoria of Qatar (Maroon) winning the gold medal in the men’s competition in the 1st FIBA Asia 3x3 Championship for Men and Women.

Click here for Women’s competition report

Complete results

Qatar (Maroon) the only unbeaten team in the competition truly ruled the roost with their overall supremacy right through both days of FIBA Asia’s first ever 3x3 competitions reflecting the overall efficiency with which the event was run by QBF. When Ismail stepped up to receive the winners’ trophy from FIBA Asia President Sheikh Saud bin Ali Al-Thani and then turned to QBF president Sheikh Saoud bin Abdulrahman to receive a laudatory hug, there were not many who doubted the efficacy of the gold medalists.

But it was not as smooth sailing as Qatar’s National Team coach Tim Wisman would have liked it to be.

Beating their fellow country team Qatar (Grey) put the Maroon team into the semifinals, but each moment from then on was a test of Qatar’s resilience and resources.

Pitted against an equally well-equipped Iran in the semifinals, it was Ismail’s smart and adroit plays in the crunch moments that clinched them the game.

And against fellow GCC team Saudi Arabia, who were riding high on a wave of confidence after beating fancied Jordan in the semifinals, it took Boney Watson’s craftiness to take Qatar to the top of the podium.

With the game tantalizingly poised, Watson reeled in three successive, and successful, lay-ups and set up Ismail to a nicety on another occasion to take the game away from Saudi Arabia.

Saudi Arabia could at least have the satisfaction of being beaten by a team of great resources.

Iran, on the other hand, were involved in a battle of wits with fellow WABA team Jordan for the bronze medal, after losing to Qatar.

Jordan, who suffered a bruising defeat to Saudi Arabia in the semifinals, attempted to slow down the pace to buy time and catch their breath, but were outsmarted by Iran.

FIBA Asia