2023 FIBA 3x3 World Cup: Serbia defend men's title as USA take women's crown
Led by Dejan Majstorovic, Serbia secured its sixth world title as United States upset defending champions France to take the women's crown in Vienna.
Basketball 3x3
Serbia’s men defended their title to win their sixth crown in eight editions of the FIBA 3x3 World Cup in Vienna, Austria, on Sunday (4 June) as the United States upset France in the women’s contest to claim victory.
Mihailo Vasic scored the game-winning lay-up as the Serbs overcame a four-point deficit (19-15) to win 21-19 and successfully defend their title from 2022.
In the women’s final, the United States stunned reigning champions France 16-12 to win their first 3x3 World Cup gold since 2014.
The men's decider was tight from the first whistle with ex-NBA star Jimmer Fredette of Team USA flashing his two-point shooting capabilities early.
The hot-handed Fredette continued to evade the Serbians pushing the US out to a four-point lead (5-9). When the defending champions wrestled the scoreline back via their own offensive weapon in Strahinja Stojacic, the Americans then exploded ahead again taking the lead to 19-15.
At 19-19, the game looked all but said and done when Fredette went for his ninth two-point shot attempt. But to the upset of the Americans, the ball rolled halfway through the rim before spilling out keeping the Serbians alive.
The taking a 20-19 lead, it was the Americans in possession looking for a way to close out a game. However, a steal by veteran player Dejan Majstorovic denied the US their chance with the Serb using the ball to set up the game-winning lay-up and seal the win.
With their victory in the final, the Serbians wrap up a perfect tournament having gone undefeated in all seven of their games.
They advanced to the final after defeating Olympic champions Latvia in the semi-finals. Prior to that, they defeated Austria in the quarterfinals.
Six-time world champions Serbia underlined their dominance in the event, while Majstorovic also became the most decorated athlete in 3x3 World Cup history after winning his fifth World Cup.
Speaking to Olympics.com afterwards, the 'Maestro' Majstorovic said: "It was a great game in the final and I think without our fans we wouldn't have won this game.
"Five times to be a world champion, it's amazing. I always dreamed about playing 5-on-5 for the Serbian national team, and to win any medal: European Cup, World Cup or Olympics. Now I'm a five-time World Cup champion. It's amazing. But still, we need to keep practising hard and we want that Olympic gold next year."
USA defeat defending champions France to claim women's crown
United States put on a masterclass to beat reigning champions France 16-12 in the women's final.
The Americans, comprised of Hailey Van Lith, Cameron Brink, Cierra Burdick and Linnae Harper, defended hard early to deny a Laetita Gaupo-led France the chance to defend their title from 2022.
It was a strategy that proved effective with France, struggling offensively, amassing a spate of fouls as they tried to pierce their way into the game.
Taking a six-point lead (10-4) the USA then claimed control for the rest of the game with Burdick and Van Lith contributing seven points each as they continued to chip away at the scoreline deflating any chance of a late French comeback.
The US women started their World Cup campaign with a loss to Canada before winning the next seven games to book their place in the final against France.
With their victory, the US become the most successful women's team in the history of the 3x3 World Cup. They last won gold back in 2014 after winning the inaugural title in 2012.
Burdick, who was part of the 2014 team, also became the first woman to have two World Cup titles to her name. Speaking to Olympics.com she said: "It's unreal. It's unreal, to be world champions it's incredible. I'm just so happy for my team and happy for my teammates, happy for our staff our coaches did an unbelievable job of preparing us.
"My mum before the game told me that no woman has ever won two World Cups so just to be the first, and to make history like that, really I just have a ton of gratitude for USA Basketball for continuing to trust me and to select me for these rosters. It's so surreal. It's going to take a while for this to set in."
Brink added: "I think our defensive efforts are a huge credit to our coaching staff. They tell us what to do and we take it to heart and do it. We believe them and I think we really just listened to our scouting report and put it to work."
On her title as tournament MVP, the 21-year-old said: "It's honestly surreal. I didn't believe it. This is my first time 3x3 to be named MVP is a huge honour. I think all of my teammates were deserving. I am just really thankful."
Earlier, Australia’s women defeated People’s Republic of China 21-20 in the third-place playoff to take the bronze.
Olympic champions Latvia defeated tournament surprise package Brazil 22-12.
As well as going home with medals around their necks, the top six teams across the men's and women's competitions have also guaranteed themselves a ticket to an Olympic Qualifying Tournament for Paris 2024.
2023 FIBA 3x3 World Cup Final Awards
- Women's tournament MVP: Cameron Brink
- Women's All-Tournament Team: Cameron Brink, Laetitia Gaupo and Marena Whittle
- Men's tournament MVP: Strahinja Stojacic
- Men's All-Tournament Team: Strahinja Stojacic, Jimmer Fredette, Nauris Miezis