FIBA to propose 3x3 basketball as an Olympic event

[Hepcat]

Poland, Netherlands, and Latvia take the three men's spots.

What's ironic is that both Poland and the Netherlands were completely lackluster on the first day of the tournament. Poland had an unimpressive 17-15 victory over the Czech Republic and then lost to Mongolia 22-18. Meanwhile the Netherlands lost 21-17 to Latvia and then 17-15 to Canada. I wonder if their opponents therefore took them too lightly in the playoffs.

The US will have some representation with Michael Hicks who has been a linchpin of the Polish 3x3 team for a long time.

Does Michael Hicks have a Polish mother? Or has he settled down to live in Poland and is taking out Polish citizenship?

[JGX]

What's ironic is that both Poland and the Netherlands were completely lackluster on the first day of the tournament. Poland had an unimpressive 17-15 victory over the Czech Republic and then lost to Mongolia 22-18. Meanwhile the Netherlands lost 21-17 to Latvia and then 17-15 to Canada. I wonder if their opponents therefore took them too lightly in the playoffs.

I think men's 3x3 just has a lot of evenly matched teams and the results on any specific day are a coin toss. Both Poland and the Netherlands (and their associated World Tour teams) have had good results in the past.

Does Michael Hicks have a Polish mother? Or has he settled down to live in Poland and is taking out Polish citizenship?

He's played in Poland since 2010. Solid Polglish interview here:

https://sport.tvp.pl/54101711/koszykowka-3x3-michael-hicks-przed-io-w-tokio-brazowy-medal-juz-mam-chce-zlota

[Hepcat]

He's played in Poland since 2010. Solid Polglish interview here:

https://sport.tvp.pl/54101711/koszyk...mam-chce-zlota

Well he certainly sounds Polish enough!

[JGX]

Belgium men and Italy women take the final Olympic spots at this weekend's "Universality" tournament, with hosts Hungary coming up short in both decisive games. Belgium needed a last-second two to beat Mongolia in the semifinals, while 2018 World Cup MVP (and FIBA 3x3 anthem composer) Rae Lin D'Alie hit a late shot to put the Italian women in the Olympics.

[Hepcat]

The Belgians were easily the class on the Men's side of the Tournament winning all of their games:

Universal Qualifying Tournament Scores

Belgium 19 Ukraine 14
Belgium 20 Slovenia 18
Belgium 16 Mongolia 15 (SF)
Belgium 21 Hungary 14 (F)

The same Antwerp team of Rafael Bogaerts, Nick Celis, Thierry Marien and Thibaut Vervoort lost out in the QFs of the Pro Category in Stop 1 of the Lithuanian Championships in Garliava on May 2nd and variants of that Antwerp team didn't do any better in the next two weeks:

Lithuanian 3x3 Championships

But they clearly used it all as a learning experience ("If we have to lose somewhere we might as well do it here.") because they were excellent in the Graz Qualifying Tournament last week. They finished in a three way tie with the United States and Lithuania in the Group stage with a 3-1 record but narrowly failed to advance on the basis of a crummy tie breaker.

So I'm glad for Belgium. They merited another chance after the Graz Tournament.

[Hepcat]

Here's an article dated May 29th describing Team Canada's performance at the 3x3 Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Graz two weeks ago:

Basketball Canada - 29 May 2021

Unfortunately, that's about it for Team Canada in the foreseeable future. I don't see any Americas 3x3 tournaments scheduled for later in the year.

[Hepcat]

Incidentally these are the teams that have gained participation in the Women's Olympic 3x3 event:

Qualified on Basis of 2019 Federation Ranking

Russia
China
Mongolia
Romania

Qualified at Graz Tournament

United States
France
Japan

Qualified at Debrecen Universality Tournament

Italy

[JGX]

Posted this in the other forum but since this is going to be an Olympic event...controversy in the Dutch camp as Julian Jaring, who was the top scorer in the qualifying game against the US, was left off the team in favor of Canadian-born Ross Bekkering, who is expected to provide more offensive punch. Jaring went to court to try to get on the team but was denied:

https://www.nu.nl/sport-overig/6145196/basketballer-jaring-verliest-kort-geding-voor-plek-in-olympische-selectie.html

[JGX]

Katie Lou Samuelson out of US team due to "health and safety protocol", replaced by Jackie Young:

https://www.usab.com/news-events/news/2021/07/3x3-roster-young.aspx