3x3 – Angel Santana's basketball summer

ISTANBUL (FIBA 3x3 World Tour) – Of all the players sitting in the briefing meeting ahead of the Istanbul stop of the FIBA 3x3 World Tour, the tall dark-haired Spanish-Romanian Angel Santana is maybe the most recognisable.

His big frame, hard playing style but friendly and welcoming smile have made him a favourite among fellow players.

Last weekend only, he represented his adoptive home country of Romania at the FIBA 3x3 World Championship in Athens, Greece.

The Romanians fell at the Eighth-Final stage, but Santana’s busy 3x3 basketball summer is by no means over.

This weekend, he will be playing for Bucharest UPB against 14 other teams in the battle for the two finalist spots that qualify for Miami.

“I have been playing 3x3 the whole summer,” he said.

“I went to Prague, I went to Moscow, I went to Athens and I have come here.

“I have been playing around for a while so I know what it’s all about.”

If Santana knows what it is all about, he also knows a lot of regular players of the various Eastern European 3x3 tours and tournaments.

Asked how many of the field of 60 (15 teams of four), he said: "probably between 20 and 25."

Alongside his teammates, he qualified by winning the Sportarena qualifier in Bucharest.

“This is of course my first time in the world tour.

“I want to win for sure.

“First of all we want to have a good time here, see what happens.”

Bucharest UPB certainly had a good time when the turned up for a light practice session.

There were laughs, jokes and pranks to complement the drills and shooting exercises.

“We had a lot of fun; we always have fun.”

Asked if the 3x3 World Tour Final was on his mind, Santana’s eyes lit up.

“If everything goes ok, then we will make it there also,” he smiled.

FIBA