NAGOYA (Japan) – Liman (SRB) captured the FIBA 3x3 Go Too! Group Aichi Challenger 2026 on October 11, defeating Shanghai (CHN) 21-17 in the Final at LaLaport NAGOYA minato AQULS. Led by tournament MVP Nemanja Zigon, the Serbian side claimed their fourth Challenger stop win, while Toronto (CAN), Shibuya (JPN) and Skyliners (GER) secured their places at the FIBA 3x3 World Tour Manama 2026.
The Winner
Liman navigated a competitive field to lift the Aichi Challenger banner, overcoming Cibona Ph.Classic (CRO) 17-13 in the Quarter-Finals before defeating Toronto 21-17 in the Semi-Finals.
The Serbian side's run included a dramatic pool-stage encounter against Shibuya, which ended in a 21-20 overtime defeat. Liman responded in the knockout rounds, delivering when it mattered most to reach the Final.
Against Shanghai, Liman produced another composed performance to secure the 21-17 victory. Already pre-qualified for World Tour Manama, the Serbian powerhouse added another title to their campaign and reinforced their status among the leading teams on the FIBA 3x3 Pro Circuit.
The Runner-up
Shanghai also enjoyed an impressive run to the Final, showcasing their scoring power throughout the tournament.
The Chinese side opened with a 21-13 win over Seef (BRN) before defeating Toronto 22-18 in pool play. They maintained their momentum in the knockout stage, beating Crvena Zvezda (SRB) 22-15 in the Quarter-Finals and Shibuya 21-17 in the Semi-Finals.
Despite falling short against Liman, Shanghai finished second and confirmed their place at World Tour Manama, having already secured qualification before the Aichi Challenger.
The Final
The Final brought together two of the tournament's strongest teams, with Liman and Shanghai battling for the Aichi banner. Liman ultimately prevailed 21-17, finding the points needed to close out the contest and secure the championship. Dušan Popović topped all scorers in the Final with 9 points. The victory capped a strong knockout-stage run for the Serbian side, which overcame two tough opponents before defeating Shanghai in the Final.
The Reward
Zigon earned MVP honors after showcasing consistently high productivity throughout the tournament. The Liman standout recorded 26 total points, seven drives and 34.0 total player value, ranking third in the field in the latter category and fourth in drives.
His contribution helped Liman complete their title-winning campaign, while the tournament also determined three additional qualifiers for FIBA 3x3 World Tour Manama 2026.
Shibuya, Toronto and Skyliners secured the remaining places among the eligible teams. Liman, Shanghai and Cibona Ph.Classic had already pre-qualified, meaning all six teams will be part of the Manama field.
Final Standings
1. Liman (SRB) - already pre-qualified to WT Manama 2. Shanghai (CHN) - already pre-qualified to WT Manama 3. Shibuya (JPN) - qualified to WT Manama 4. Toronto (CAN) - qualified to WT Manama 5. Cibona Ph.Classic (CRO) - already pre-qualified to WT Manama 6. Skyliners (GER) - qualified to WT Manama
Top Scorers
1. Pengcheng Lu (Shanghai) - 32 points 2. Kristaps Gluditis (Shibuya) - 31 points 3. Cameron Forte (Shanghai) - 28 points 4. Dušan Popović (Liman) - 28 points 5. Karlis Lasmanis (Shanghai) - 28 points
What's Next
World-class halfcourt action returns with the FIBA 3x3 World Tour Macau 2026 on October 17-18 at the iconic Ruins of St. Paul's.
With the FIBA 3x3 Go Too! Group Aichi Challenger 2026 title secured and three more teams booking their places in Manama, the Pro Circuit moves to Macau for another crucial stop in the race for qualifying points to the FIBA 3x3 World Tour Rio de Janeiro Final 2026 in Brazil.
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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