Serbia win fifth-straight FIBA 3x3 Europe Cup title
The final came down to a game winner from Serbia's 'Doctor Strange,' Strahinja Stojacic
Basketball 3x3
Serbia won a fifth-straight men's championship at the 2023 FIBA 3x3 Europe Cup Thursday (7 September 2023), holding off a strong Lithuanian team in a nailbiter. The tournament was held in Jerusalem.
The final score was 22-20.
"It's a dream come true for Serbia, for our people, for my family, make them proud, for the guys, so it's unbelievable," said Nemanja Barać, 33, who was playing in his first FIBA Europe Cup for his nation. "It's unbelievable for me at this age to be a European Champion. It's the best feeling in the world."
With five minutes to play, Lithuania had the lead 13-12, but Serbia's Strahinja Stojacic, known as Doctor Strange, took control and railed his squad to a 19-14 lead with less than three minutes on the clock.
What looked like a certain win for Serbia took a nervous turn as their lead evaporated. The game was tied at 20-all at 1:52 remaining.
But, Stojacic was not to be denyed, hitting a game-winning two-point shot to seal the continental victory.
For Lithuania, it's a second runner-up finish in the event in three years, having also taken silver at the 2021 edition in Paris.