KOROR (Palau) – The FIBA 3x3 Youth Nations League – Oceania, Conference 1tipped off with an exhilarating Stop 1 in Koror, setting the stage for an action-packed week of 3x3 action. After a day of intense competition, Fiji's women's team and Marshall Islands' men's team emerged victorious, claiming the titles in their respective categories.
Women's Tournament: Fiji Dominates
The women's competition saw some dominant performances, with Fiji ultimately proving to be the team to beat. Papua New Guinea (PNG) started strong, securing a convincing win against Palau. Fiji showcased their prowess early, flexing their muscles against Marshall Islands.
The host nation, Palau, fought gallantly but ultimately fell to Vanuatu in a close 14-11 contest during pool play. Guam grinded out a convincing 21-10 win over Marshall Islands in their opening match. PNG continued their impressive run, breezing past Vanuatu to secure a spot in the final. Fiji meant business in their final pool match, overcoming an accurate Guam outfit 14-12 to advance to the championship game.
The women's final pitted Fiji against PNG. Fiji displayed remarkable composure and nerve, ultimately securing a dominant 18-7 victory. Fiji player Camari Ravai shared her thoughts on the win, emphasizing the team's cohesion and determination.
Men's Tournament: Marshall Islands Edges Out PNG in Thriller
The men's tournament was marked by tight battles and thrilling finishes, culminating in an overtime epic.
Papua New Guinea (PNG) Men started their campaign by accounting for Vanuatu in pool play. The clash between Fiji and Marshall Islands was a close encounter, with Marshall Islands pushing the 2023 Pacific Games 3x3 runners-up all the way before Fiji prevailed 20-15.
Defending Pacific Games 2023 3x3 Champions, Guam, hit 21 points with two minutes to spare in their victory over Vanuatu. In their event debut, the Palau men started strong against Marshall Islands, hitting a two-pointer in the first 10 seconds. However, Marshall Islands turned on the burners to win 21-15.
The highly anticipated match between PNG and Guam was a tight, tough, and physical affair. PNG secured their first-ever 3x3 win over Guam with a 19-17 victory.
The hosts, Palau, capped off their pool play by defeating Fiji 17-14. The men's final was a fitting end to the day, as PNG and Marshall Islands battled it out in a tight tussle that went into overtime. Both teams finished regulation tied at 12 points each. Ultimately, Marshall Islands prevailed 14-12, with Rusin Abraham sinking the winning two-pointer to secure the championship. Abraham's post-game interview reflected the excitement of the hard-fought victory.
With Stop 1 now complete, teams will look to learn from their performances as they prepare for the next five stops, all culminating in the medal matches on Wednesday July 9. The competition promises to be even more intense as teams vie for FIBA 3x3 Youth Nations League World Cup Qualifications with Commonwealth countries also fighting for a spot at the Commonwealth Games 2026 Glasgow.
All games are livestream on FIBA 3x3 YouTube