PHOENIX (United States) – Miami (USA) continued their remarkable run on the FIBA 3x3 Challenger circuit, capturing the FIBA 3x3 Phoenix Challenger 2026 after defeating Amsterdam RABOBANK (NED) 22-16 in the Final on September 20. The victory marked Miami's third Challenger stop win of the season, while Amsterdam and Princeton (USA) joined them in securing tickets to the FIBA 3x3 World Tour Macau 2026.
Miami make it three
Miami were in control from the opening day, sweeping Pool A after wins over Princeton and Phoenix (USA). They continued that momentum in the knockout stage, dispatching London (GBR) 21-12 in the Quarter-Finals before producing another commanding performance against Bordeaux (FRA), winning 21-13 in the Semi-Finals. James Parrott was perfect from the field in the Semi-Final, going 5-for-5 from the floor and 1-for-1 from the free-throw line as Miami raced to a 6-2 start and never looked back. The Americans then saved their biggest performance for the Final.
Amsterdam push Miami
Amsterdam RABOBANK started the Final brightly, taking a 5-4 lead before the teams remained locked at 9-9 midway through the contest. Miami then found another gear, opening a 17-11 advantage with under three minutes remaining. Amsterdam continued to battle, but Miami held their nerve to close out the 22-16 victory.
Riley Battin led all scorers with 11 points, while the returning Jimmer Fredette added eight points, five rebounds and four two-pointers in the Final. The victory gives Miami their third Challenger title of 2026, following previous triumphs at FISE Birmingham and the Sansar Challenger.
Fredette earns MVP honors
In his first FIBA 3x3 Pro Circuit match since retiring in April 2025, Fredette was named the Phoenix Challenger MVP after an all-around tournament performance. The Miami star finished with 47.6 total player value, the highest mark of the event, alongside 27 total points, 22 highlights, one triple-five, 10 two-pointers, 15 key assists and two blocks. His 10 two-pointers were also the most in the tournament. Likewise, his 22 highlights and triple-five led the field.
Princeton punch ticket to Macau
Princeton produced one of the weekend's biggest results by eliminating Antwerp (BEL) 21-15 in the Quarter-Finals. The Americans relied on a balanced attack and six two-pointers to overcome the sixth-ranked Antwerp side and reach the Semi-Finals, where they fell 22-14 to eventual champions Miami. Princeton nevertheless finished third overall and secured the Final World Tour Macau ticket alongside Miami and Amsterdam RABOBANK.
The Reward
Miami, Amsterdam RABOBANK and Princeton have all qualified for FIBA 3x3 World Tour Macau 2026, set for October 17-18, after finishing as the top three teams in Phoenix. The result gives Miami and Amsterdam another World Tour appearance in their strong 2026 campaigns, while Princeton finally secure their first ticket to the global circuit this season. WT Macau will mark Princeton's World Tour debut in 2026.
Final Standings
1. Miami (USA) - qualified to WT Macau 2. Amsterdam RABOBANK (NED) - qualified to WT Macau 3. Princeton (USA) - qualified to WT Macau 4. Bordeaux (FRA) 5. Antwerp (BEL)
Top Scorers
1. Riley Battin (Miami) - 38 pts 2. Maarten Bouwknecht (Amsterdam RABOBANK) - 34 pts 3. Bryan Alberts (Amsterdam RABOBANK) - 28 pts 4. Jimmer Fredette (Miami) - 27 pts 5. James Parrott (Miami) - 24 pts
What's next
Attention now shifts back to the FIBA 3x3 World Tour Deqing 2026, which is set for September 26-27 in one of China's 3x3 basketball hotbeds. The Challenger circuit also returns on the same weekend, with the Mataro Challenger taking place on September 26-27 as the race for further World Tour tickets continues.
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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