BATAM (Indonesia) – Antwerp (BEL) continued their impressive 2026 campaign by capturing the inaugural FIBA 3x3 Batam Challenger 2026, defeating surprise finalists Kaunas VDU (LTU) 21-17 in Sunday's Final at Alun Alun Batam Centre.
Powered by another sensational performance from tournament MVP Jonas Foerts, Antwerp secured their third Challenger title of the season while adding another milestone by becoming the first-ever Batam Challenger champions.
With Antwerp already qualified for the FIBA 3x3 World Tour Malaga 2026, the remaining three qualification spots went to Kaunas VDU, Miami (USA) and Taipei WanBao (TPE).
The Winner
Antwerp once again showed why they remain among the most dangerous teams on the FIBA 3x3 Pro Circuit.
After opening with convincing victories over DeQing (CHN) and Shinjuku SS (JPN) to top Pool C, the Belgian side survived one of the tournament's most dramatic moments in the Quarter-Finals. Trailing powerhouse Ub (SRB) for much of the contest, Antwerp stayed within striking distance before Caspar Augustijnen grabbed an offensive rebound and buried a buzzer-beating two-pointer to steal an unforgettable 21-20 victory.
That momentum carried into the Semi-Finals, where Antwerp erased an early deficit against previously unbeaten Miami. Foerts caught fire during a decisive 10-2 run that turned a 12-9 deficit into a commanding advantage as the Belgians closed out a 21-14 win.
Foerts delivered another masterclass in the Final, pouring in 12 points -- including the game-winning two-pointer -- to seal Antwerp's latest Challenger crown.
The Belgian star was deservedly named tournament MVP after finishing first in total player value (52.5) and key assists (17), while ranking second in both total points (39) and highlights (27). He also knocked down 10 two-pointers across the tournament to spearhead Antwerp's championship run.
The Runner-up
Kaunas VDU produced one of the tournament's biggest stories by reaching their first Pro Circuit Final of 2026.
The Lithuanian side announced themselves with a stunning pool-stage upset over Ub before sweeping through the group undefeated. Kaunas maintained its momentum on Sunday, racing past DeQing in the Quarter-Finals before overcoming Taipei WanBao in the Semi-Finals to extend their winning streak to four games.
Evaldas Šaulys led the charge throughout the weekend, finishing as the tournament's leading scorer with 40 points while repeatedly delivering timely baskets during Kaunas' memorable run.
Although the title ultimately slipped away, Kaunas left Batam with plenty to celebrate after securing qualification to the FIBA 3x3 World Tour Malaga.
The Final
Antwerp wasted little time imposing themselves in the Final, racing to a 7-3 lead before maintaining a narrow 10-7 advantage midway through the contest.
Kaunas fought back and cut the deficit to a single point at 11-10, but Foerts responded with a huge two-pointer to ignite another Antwerp surge. The Belgians stretched the lead to 19-11 and looked firmly in control before Kaunas mounted one final comeback, trimming the margin to just 19-17 with under two minutes remaining.
With the pressure mounting, Foerts once again stepped up. The Belgian sharpshooter buried another clutch two-pointer to seal a 21-17 victory and complete Antwerp's championship run.
The Reward
While Antwerp lifted the trophy, the weekend also finalized another important chapter in the race to the World Tour.
As the champions had already secured their place in FIBA 3x3 World Tour Malaga, the remaining qualification spots were awarded to Kaunas VDU, Miami and Taipei WanBao as the next highest eligible finishers.
Final Standings:
1. Antwerp (BEL) - already pre-qualified to WT Malaga 2. Kaunas VDU (LTU) - qualified to WT Malaga 3. Miami (USA) - qualified to WT Malaga 4. Taipei WanBao (TPE) - qualified to WT Malaga 5. Ub (SRB)
Top Scorers:
1. Evaldas Šaulys (Kaunas VDU) - 40 pts 3. Jonas Foerts (Antwerp) - 39 pts 2. Caspar Augustijnen (Antwerp) - 35 pts 4. Wang Yunzhang (DeQing) - 26 pts 5. Riley Battin (Miami) - 26 pts
What's Next
Antwerp once again demonstrated the championship pedigree that has made them one of the standout teams of the FIBA 3x3 Pro Circuit 2026, while Kaunas VDU, Miami and Taipei WanBao earned their reward with coveted World Tour Malaga berths. After another weekend packed with upsets, dramatic finishes and standout individual performances, the Challenger circuit now shifts its focus to the FIBA 3x3 Athens Challenger 2026 on July 31-August 1.
Stay Connected
Follow all the latest action from the FIBA 3x3 World Tour throughout the 2026 season by visiting the official World Tour website, where you can find the latest news, team standings, player statistics and everything you need to follow the Race to the Final. Fans can also keep track of the Event Calendar and the latest FIBA 3x3 Individual and Federation Rankings as teams and players continue their push toward the season finale.
Want to learn more about 3x3 basketball? Explore the official FIBA 3x3 Rules to understand the unique fast-paced format of the game, or discover the FIBA 3x3 Competition Structure to see how the discipline’s global pathway connects grassroots events, professional tours and world-class international competitions.
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