3x3 - History is made with first ever FIBA mixed competition

ATHENS (FIBA 3x3 World Championship) - Not intent in hosting the first ever FIBA 3x3 World Championship, history was made again on Friday as the much awaited mixed competition got underway.

FIBA Secretary General Borislav Stankovic, who has wintnessed plenty of major milestones in his time, was in attendance alongside Greek Federation President George Vassilakopoulos and FIBA Secretary General Patrick Baumann to see the mixed games on centre court.

With two players of each gender on each team and, accordingly at least one player of each gender on court at all times, the Eight-Final games provided the large and curious crowd with a spectacle of speed, clever play as well as great athleticism.

Mexico, whose women had yet to register a win, overcame Spain with a hard-fought 20-16 victory.

The English broke Greek hearts with a shot by Myles Hesson from beyond the arc to carry them beyond the magical 21-point margin.

“It the home nation and a really great crowd,” he said afterwards.

“It’s probably what lifted me to make that last shot.

Asked whether he thought it had a future, Hesson said: “I don’t know, maybe, why not.”

“It was a good game for me, I enjoyed it and I think the crowd did.”

France and Russia, powerhouses in both the men’s and women’s competition, fought hard, with the French prevailing with a killer buzzer-beater from long range.

Frence’s Perrine Leleuch was thrilled.

“It’s great playing mixed,” she said.

“There are already lots of girls playing with the boys. It’s different, you improve differently and I think there is great potential in both mixed and 3x3.”

The English would fall to the French in the quarters, who remain unbeaten in all three categories.

France will play Ukraine in Sunday’s first Semi-Final, while Czech Republic come up against Argentina.

FIBA