ANTWERP (Belgium) - Latvia (men) and the Netherlands (women) impress in pool play with perfect displays on Day 2 of the FIBA 3x3 Europe Cup Crelan 2026 on September 12.
Teams
Latvia (men)
The reigning world champs have their sights set on an international double, and their pool phase performance showed they have what it takes to make it happen.
They went toe-to-toe against Ireland in their opening game. While they had to stave off Ireland’s barrage from beyond the two-point line, Latvia emerged victorious 21 - 16. Kristaps Gluditis went on a scoring tear, putting up 11 points, including 4 two-pointers of his own to earn them the win.
Their second matchup in pool phase would be a rematch of the 2025 Europe Cup Final. They would take on current European champions Lithuania in a hotly contested battle. Though back-and-forth for most of the games proceedings, it was Latvia who held on at the end, sealing a 22 - 16 victory to finish pool phase with a 2-0 record.
Serbia also managed to finish perfect in pool action with wins over Switzerland and Belgium to seal their knockout phase spot. Also joining them would be Belgium and Lithuania who earned their place into the final 16.
Netherlands (women)
The reigning European winners showcased just what they do best in pool phase - win. The Dutch, arguably one of the most on-form sides in 3x3, came out swinging on Day 2, earning two dominant wins to seal their quarter-final spot.
Their opener was a marquee matchup against Azerbaijan which saw the Dutch showcase their surgical selves, grinding down their opposition while sticking to their offensive gameplan to come away with a 21 - 12 win. Noortje Driessen stole the spotlight with her historic performance. She put up 13 points, tying the single-game record for most points scored by a women’s player in Europe Cup history.
It was a similar tale in their second game of the day against Ukraine. It was yet another physical battle and once again, the Netherlands got the job done with a 19 - 14 victory. Noortje Driessen and Ilse Kuijt both put up 8 points to lead the way for the Dutch.
Azerbaijan, France and Czechia also earned their spot into the knockout rounds on the day.
Players
Kristaps Gluditis (Men)
When Latvia needed buckets, Kristaps Gluditis answered the call every single time.
He put up double digit points in their opener, an 11-point game in their win against Ireland before following it up with a team-high 9 points in a huge win over Lithuania. His efficient scoring from both inside and outside made him an unstoppable force for Latvia on the day and a crucial piece in their bid for the European title in Antwerp.
Noortje Driessen (Women)
It was a day to remember for Noortje Driessen who put up historic numbers for the Dutch in their perfect pool run.
In their opening tie against a contending Azerbaijan, Driessen put up 13 points, a single-game record for most points scored by a women’s player in Europe Cup history. She chipped in with another joint-high 8 points in their 19 - 14 win against Ukraine, showing just why she’s 3x3’s premier star.
Her hot start in Antwerp bodes well for the Dutch as they get set to defend their title in the knockout phase tomorrow.
Quarter-Finals Matchups
Men’s
QF1: Serbia v Lithuania QF2: Germany v Netherlands QF3: Spain v France QF4: Latvia v Belgium
Women’s
QF1: Netherlands v Czechia QF2: Germany v Slovenia QF3: Spain v Belgium QF4: France v Azerbaijan
Day 3
The European crown will be earned tomorrow as we dive into knockout action. Don’t miss the action, tune in LIVE through the FIBA 3x3 YouTube channel.
Stay Connected
Follow all the latest action from the FIBA 3x3 Cups tournaments throughout the 2026 season by visiting the official FIBA 3x3 website, where you can find the latest news, star players and everything you need to know. 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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