COPENHAGEN (Denmark) - Anticipation is rising for the 10th edition of the FIBA 3x3 Europe Cup, which will take place for the first time in Denmark's stunning capital of Copenhagen on September 5-7.
The draw has been revealed for the three-day continental event, with 12 teams per gender placed into four intriguing pools .
Pools
Five-time champion Serbia are the No.1 men's seed, while World Cup champ Netherlands have top billing in the women's. Austria (men's) and Spain (women's) are the reigning champions.
Pool games to watch
The opening two days of competition will be non-stop action, but there are certain games that demand absolute concentration.
Day One, September 5
Netherlands vs Latvia (men)
This is a mouth-watering battle between the only countries to win men's Olympic gold. Legendary Latvia boast Tokyo gold medalist Karlis Lasmanis, who was also part of the country's breakout Euro Cup victory in 2017 that put them on the 3x3 map.
Flight KLM is part of a new-look Latvia team featuring his successor Francis Lacis and they will need to be a superhero duo to combat Paris gold medalist Netherlands, who are looking for their first continental crown.
The Netherlands boast Paris gold medalists Dimeo van der Horst and Jan Driessen and they will need to fire in this Pool C blockbuster that is scheduled to be the second last men's game on the opening day.
Poland vs Germany (women)
There are high stakes in this Pool D clash between No.4 seed Germany and No.5 Poland, with both teams gunning for a fast start in a bid to win their first Europe Cup crown.
Germany have a revamped team from the historic line-up that went all the way at Paris 2024, with young gun Laura Zolper set to be her country's new star. The Germans are set to get all they can handle against Poland, who were so close to a podium finish last year.
Poland bring back the same awesome foursome, including Aleksandra Zięmborska who has been on fire in the Women's Series.
Day Two, September 6
Spain vs Great Britain (women)
Defending champion Spain enter as the in-form team having won the WS title in Debrecen, where they defeated No.1 Netherlands in an epic semi-final that went into OT. The Spaniards have made the final four in each of the past four Europe Cups - including twice winning the title - and they are expected to add to that streak.
But Spain will face an early challenge in Pool C against an improving Great Britain, who have impressed at times on the Women's Series including a quarter-final run in Edmonton.
Cavina Rickards and Cheridene Green were dynamic during that event and they'll need to play the game of their lives if Great Britain are to cause a major boilover.
France vs Germany (men)
Perhaps the game with the most juice will be this clash between powerhouse France and emerging Germany in a Pool B firecracker.
France have only one medal in tournament history, but are now a fully-fledged power after their Olympic silver medal on home soil last year. They enter as the No.2 seed and will be led by superstar Franck Seguela, an excitement machine who plays with trademark French flair.
But the Frenchmen will be up against the new kids on the block Germany, whose rise has been anticipated for a long-time given their talented youth. Unicorn Fabian Giessmann has lived up to the hype of being the Wemby of 3x3 as he led Germany to a semi-final finish at the World Cup.
This game will be non-stop entertainment and just cannot be missed.
FIBA