VALENCIA (Jeff Taylor's Eurovision) - It was disappointing when Switzerland decided not to play in the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 European Pre-Qualifiers this summer. Hoops fans in the country, however, have at least had two incredible days of ball to watch.

The FIBA 3x3 World Tour had a stop in Lausanne, just up the road from FIBA's House of Basketball in Mies, on Friday and Saturday. In a highlight-packed event, teams, including a new-look Lausanne team, showed why 3x3 will be a big hit at the Tokyo Olympics.

The action was fast, furious and fantastic. Novi Sad Al Wahda, which is effectively Serbia's national team in 3x3, were without their World No. 1 player Dusan Bulut because of an ankle injury yet they still won the title, making it three victories in a row on the World Tour.

Local heroes Lausanne helped light up the 3x3 World Tour by reaching the Final

But the team of the tournament was Lausanne, who raised eyebrows with not only an opening day victory over Novi Sad Al Wahda but with their flair. They had panache in abundance. They had pin-point perfect passes, alley-oop slams and sensational swats.

Their four of Gilles Martin, Westher Molteni, Marco Lehmann and Natan Jurkovitz was fabulous. It was the same team that represented Switzerland at the FIBA 3x3 Europe Cup in Amsterdam earlier this summer.

Who cares if Novi Sad Al Wahda beat them in Saturday's Final with a $20,000 cheque at stake (okay, the Lausanne players cared!). This team made it to the title game in their very first event together! And they didn't leave empty-handed, but with the $10,000 prize that went to the second-place team.

"We're really proud of what we did," said Molteni, who played basketball for Switzerland in their EuroBasket Division B campaigns of 2009 and 2011. "As a team, we've been together for two months. We did good at the European Championship (FIBA 3x3 Europe Cup) and we did also good today. We showed that Switzerland also deserves respect. We're going to try and win something next year for sure."

The fans loved it. They packed the stands set up around the court in Flon, which is an old industrial part of town that's now a trendy part of Lausanne. The 3x3 event ticked all the boxes, from great basketball to great atmosphere. It was, quite simply, the place to be!

The games were played in front of the stone arches of the big bridge known as 'Le Grand Pont' and fans could see the gothic Cathedral of Notre Dame in the distance.

Lausanne helped take 3x3 to the next level

When you watched this event, you were reminded of why players like LeBron James have spoken enthusiastically about 3x3 being added to the Olympic family. This is basketball that we have all played and we can watch all day long, whether it's inside or outside.

There are still challenges ahead for 3x3 but the sport is moving in the right direction. Everyone that showed up in Lausanne will attest to that.

Jeff Taylor

FIBA

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