Ub Crowned Finals Champions Again in FIBA 3x3 World Tour Finals

We take a look at the FIBA 3x3 World Tour Finals in Manama where Serbian team Ub proved why they're the best, yet again.

 (Image: FIBA 3x3)

It was always due to be an exciting tournament. The FIBA 3x3 World Tour Finals in Manama was the concluding event of what was, it's fair to say, a rollercoaster of a season.

Understated and underrated teams were starting to win near the end of the season (see our last Road to Manama article talking about the Skyliners and others), so it was pretty clear that the Finals in Bahrain were going to be explosive.

Leading To The Finals

The path to the final was paved by two exciting semi-finals.

In the first, Ub dispatched Germany’s Skyliners 22–16, demonstrating poise under pressure and an ability to shift tempo when necessary. The Serbs turned moments of sustained defence into quick scoring bursts - the kind of conversion that repeatedly closed out opponents throughout the season.

On the other side of the bracket, Lithuania’s Raudondvaris earned their berth in the title match by outlasting Hangzhou 21–17.

The Lithuanians (made up of players that had won the FIBA 3x3 Europe Cup this summer) played the semi-final in typical fashion and showed why they have been one of the tournament’s most reliable performers: crisp ball movement, multiple scorers capable of hitting in transition, and a toughness that carried them through to the closing stages.

Their route to Manama’s final also included knockout wins over Riffa and earlier pool upsets that suggested the team could sustain a deep run.

Raudondvaris had some big Ws this year, including a title at the Chengdu World Tour

A BIG Finals

The final game was proof just why 3x3 is so exciting to watch.

Ub asserted themselves early - attacking the paint and securing points off strong interior work - and secured a lead that Raudondvaris repeatedly chipped away at (and came very close to) but never fully erased.

Ub weren't as strong offensively at the start as they have been previously in the season and got themselves into foul trouble relatively early but early defensive plays by Ub helped to secure some quick buckets and held the Lithuanians to a low scoring start to the game - with only five minutes to go, Ub were up 8:2.

Nenad Nerandžić's positioning on the court, strength and ability to get a bucket on a quick pick-and-roll, proved his worth, while Strahinja Stojacic provided the spark that carried through the whole tournament; he was later named tournament MVP after a campaign that featured a team-high scoring return and a tournament-leading player value rating.

Stojacic's performance earned him another MVP title (Image: FIBA 3x3)

Despite Raudondvaris getting back in the mix with less than two minutes to go it was clear that Ub were going to win, especially after a smart diversion play that gave Nerandžić a wide-open look for a 2pt dagger.

Across the weekend, Ub’s performance reinforced a pattern of toughness, skill and smart plays observed at multiple stops this year - listen to Rahul's breakdown of the squad on the 3x3 Basketball Podcast to hear about why they have remained a dominant squad.

Ub's veteran savvy has an ability to execute unlike any other team. Despite some players shining, their semi-final and final wins were less about individual theatrics and more about converting defensive stops into decisive baskets and creating open-looks at the right time.

Check out one of Ub's top plays broken down here

Their efficient, almost clinical approach has left opponents having to chase the game rather than set the tempo.

Ub won a decisive 20–16 victory in the title game, completing a weekend that underlined their blend of experienced shot-making and defensive discipline. By winning the FIBA 3x3 World Tour Manama Final, Ub sealed another chapter in Serbian 3x3 history.

For Raudondvaris, the defeat will sting, but their run through the tournament highlighted depth and a willingness to contest every inch of the court.

For Ub, the trophy in Manama is another affirmation of a season spent setting the benchmark in 3x3 basketball: methodical, relentless, tough and, ultimately, successful.

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