Games to watch at FIBA 3x3 World Tour Abu Dhabi Final 2022

ABU DHABI (UAE) - Basically every contest at the FIBA 3x3 World Tour Abu Dhabi Final 2022 is a blockbuster but we've done the impossible and narrowed it down to five games you just have to watch. 

Ub-Princeton

The showpiece event starts with a bang and a re-match of the final at the Utsunomiya Opener, where Ub prevailed to kick-start their run of four straight Masters titles. 

But Princeton did win earlier in that event so they do know how to beat the No.1 seed. The Americans have been a force for some time but have never won a World Tour Final before - they were runner's up in 2019 - so will be determined to break their drought. 

Playing Ub first up will be a great litmus test for them. 

 

Liman-Vienna

Vienna star Stefan Stojacic will be matched up against his old teammates in this much-anticipated Pool B clash. 

'Mr Robot' was Liman's talisman for years as he led the Serbs into becoming  a powerhouse. But he switched across to Vienna ahead of the season as a player-coach and produced a spectacular comeback season in his return from a serious knee injury. 

Stojacic, however, lost the bragging rights to Liman in the final of the Energy Sukhbaatar Challenger 2022 even though he played well with 6 points and 8 highlights. 

The stakes will be much bigger on this occasion. 

 

Antwerp-Sakiai Gulbele

This is an emerging rivalry and in-form Sakiai have the edge with big victories in knockout games in Utrecht and Hong Kong en route to the title. 

The lethal Lithuanians have been one of the hottest teams around and will want to continue their momentum against Antwerp, whose seeding of No.3 underlines their class. 

It could well come down to duos with Sakiai's Aurelijus Pukelis and Marijus Uzupis up against Thibaut Vervoort and Nick Celis. We can't wait to  see who comes out on top. 

 

Riga-Amsterdam HiPRO

The two European powers have built up a great rivalry in recent years culminating in their most epic clash. In Cebu, Riga and Amsterdam played a thriller of a semi-final and it went down to the wire. 

Karlis Lasmanis and Nauris Miezis went toe to toe with Dimeo van der Horst and Arvin Slager and it was the Latvian superheroes who had the edge with an insane 19 points to lead Riga to a tight 21-18 victory. 

Expect more fireworks in Abu Dhabi. 

 

Amsterdam HiPRO-Utrecht

The all-Dutch contest sees the masters vs the new kids on the block. There will be bragging rights on the line when they clash in Pool D, which is the 'Group of Death'. 

They match up well and should know each other's tricks. There will at some stage be a mano a mano battle between human highlight reels Dimeo van der Horst and Worthy de Jong in a mouth-watering clash between superstars.

They might just be fighting for the crown of best Dutch player alive and that could go a long way to determining which team comes out on top.

FIBA