MIES - Dahlia Miranda Monteiro, gold medalist in the Skills Contest at the FIBA ​​3x3 U18  World Cup 2017 is the ambassador of the FIBA ​​Open 2018.

The 18-year-old will be present throughout the weekend to share her passion and show off her skills which earned her the highest world recognition for her age group.

The Geneva native has been playing basketball since she was six. She decided to pick up a basketball after watching her sister play. Since then, she has loved playing the game on playgrounds.

However it was only in 2015 - during the first edition of the FIBA ​​Open - that she discovered 3x3 basketball in its official form. Unable to participate in the tournament in its first three editions  as it coincided with preparations for youth Women's European Championships, she has however never failed to come watch the games, soak up the atmosphere and celebrate 3x3 basketball.

3x3 is very pleasing to Dahlia who sees a more tactical and physical game than traditional basketball. After competing in several European Championships with the Swiss national team, she was selected in the Swiss 3x3 U18 team for the first time in 2017 to compete in the World Cup in Chengdu, China.

Very proud to be able to wear the colors of her country, Dahlia has enormously appreciated being able to face the best players in the world.

"We played against the best high school player in the United States. We can compete against many outstanding players and we hold our own, we're good enough," she said.

After arriving in Chengdu, her coach informed Dahlia of her selection to represent Switzerland in the Skills Contest and she had very little time to prepare for the course. She qualified for the Semi-Finals by the smallest of margins with the fourth and final qualifying time.

Against all odds, she won her Semi-Final against Spain's Aina Ayuso and qualified for the Final against Josefina Torruella of Argentina.

Dahlia competed in the Final after two intense days of competition but managed to breeze through the course, made a successful pass and arrived at full speed in front of the hoop for the last lay-up, which she missed... However, she had gained enough of a lead during the course to have time to grab the rebound and take another shot, shooting a lay-up just in front of the Argentinean, becoming the Skills Contest world champion and winning a gold medal for her country! 

The young point guard will not stop here. She has dreams of going to the United-States to play college basketball and bring Switzerland to the Olympic Games.

"Thanks to 3x3, it's possible, this form of the game gives much more opportunity to smaller countries," she pointed out.

When she learned that she was going to become the FIBA ​​Open 2018 Ambassador, Dahlia could not believe it.

"It feels strange, I wanted to play, I even put together a team," she said.

Since she is injured and cannot play, she appreciates  the opportunity to be part of the event even more.

"I'm happy to represent my generation and to be able to promote 3x3."

Dahlia Miranda Monteiro with FIBA President Horacio Muratore

The world champion will be present during the two days of the FIBA ​​Open to give advice during the Skills Challenge, show her medal and even show some skills despite her injury.

FIBA