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DOHA (Qatar) – World’s No.1 Liman (SRB) and factor x Manila Chooks TM (PHI) in a highly anticipated clash on Day 1 of the Doha Masters highlighting the resumption of the FIBA 3×3 World Tour from 20-21 November.
Featuring four of the top five ranked teams in the world, the thrill-filled Doha Masters will provide excitement for HUUUUNGRY 3×3 fans with the World Tour on hold since the first three Masters of the season were played in Hungary in late August and early September.
The event in Qatar, a site of several famous 3×3 moments, will also provide opportunities for various teams to secure coveted spots at next month’s World Tour Final in Jeddah.
Fueled by the return of superstar Stefan Stojacic, Liman dominated in Hungary with victories at Debrecen and Europe Masters. Fit Serbs top Group A but expected to face an uphill battle against No.9 seed Manila Chooks TM, led by the best 3×3 players from the Philippines, Joshua Munzon and Alvin Pasaol.
At last year’s exciting Doha Masters, eventual runners-up Liman were blown away by Pasig, led by Munzon. Chooks on Day 1 and you’ll be willing to avoid another spill. The Lusail (QAT) locals expect it to be more than a two-horse race in Group A.
Defending champion Riga (LAT) will be the team to beat in Group B and will seek to add to the title they won at the Hungarian Masters. A return to Doha should bring back fond memories for Karlis Lasmanis, who took flight last year to claim the MVP and hand Riga its first Masters victory.
The No. 2 seed will be the favorite against No. 7 Jeddah (KSA) and Yoyogi Crayon.EXE (JPN), although the former have shown their ability to produce surprises by defeating the memorable powerhouse Novi Sad at the Europe Masters.
If there is a group of deaths, it is probably Group C with the seed number 3 NY Harlem (USA), Lausanne number 6 Catapult (SUI) and No. 14 Utena Uniclub (LTU). The New Yorkers reached the semifinals of the last two Masters, but there is no guarantee of leaving such a loaded group.
They will, however, play to their renown and have good reason to be sure of having beaten Utena at the Debrecen Masters.
Utena bounced back from that loss to break into the final on her World Tour debut with offensive genius Ignas Vaitkus emerging as a rising star. The Lithuanians will try to show that they are not a one-hit wonder.
The talented people from Lausanne generally don’t perform well, but they showed exactly why they have long been highly rated with a semi-final at the European Masters.
Gilles Martin was an outstanding machine in Hungary and the little Swiss master will be willing to prove that he is one of the best in 3×3. Your appetizing battle with Disco Domo will be more entertaining than Netflix.
And that’s not all! Not to be overshadowed by his compatriots, No.4 seed Princeton (USA) will make his debut on this year’s World Tour and will strive to make up for lost time. They won’t have Robbie Hummel, but they will still have plenty of talent, including top-flight Kareem Maddox and pick-and-roll sage Damon Huffman.
Princeton will have to be ready from the start against fifth seed Ub (SRB), who finished spectacularly second at the Hungarian Masters, but will be missing two key pieces in Miroslav Pasaljic and Strahinja Stojacic. The third team in the group will come from qualifying.
It’s going to be another epic desert event at the last chance for the teams to impress before the World Tour grand finale.
FIBA
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