ULAANBAATAR (Mongolia) – Miami (USA) are heading back to the FIBA 3x3 World Tour after claiming the FIBA 3x3 Sansar Challenger 2026 title, defeating Amsterdam RABOBANK (NED) 18-14 in the Final to secure their second Challenger crown of the season. Amsterdam and Ulaanbaatar MMC Energy (MGL) also punched their tickets to FIBA 3x3 World Tour Deqing 2026 after finishing second and third respectively in a high-quality weekend of 3x3 basketball in Mongolia.
The Winner
Miami backed up their status as one of the season's leading Challenger teams with another composed run to the title.
The Americans swept their Pool B games on Day 1, defeating Zavkhan (MGL) 21-12 before taking down Marijampole MANTINGA (LTU) 21-13. Riley Battin led the way in the opening game with eight points, while James Parrott added seven in the second.
Miami then moved past Hangzhou Jingwei (CHN) 19-14 in the Quarter-Finals, with Battin again leading the charge. In the Semi-Finals, Henry Caruso scored nine as Miami ended Lausanne's (SUI) impressive run with a 21-14 win.
The Runner-up
Amsterdam RABOBANK delivered another strong Challenger performance to finish second and earn their ticket to Deqing.
The Dutch side opened with a 22-13 victory over Bayangol (MGL) before falling to Lausanne 16-14 in overtime. They then produced one of the tournament's biggest results by defeating No. 2 seed Liman (SRB) 22-13 in the Quarter-Finals.
Amsterdam edged Ulaanbaatar MMC Energy 21-19 in a thrilling Semi-Final, with Bryan Alberts hitting the decisive two-pointer after Delgernyam Davaasambuu had tied the game at 19-all inside the final 15 seconds.
The Final
Miami took control early against Amsterdam in the Final, racing to a 6-2 lead before extending their advantage to 14-8 midway through the contest.
Amsterdam struggled to establish the rhythm that had carried them through the knockout rounds, and Miami remained firmly in control at 17-12 with one minute remaining. The Americans closed out the 18-14 victory to claim the Sansar win, with Battin finishing as their leading scorer in the Final with eight points.
The victory gives Miami their second Challenger title of the 2026 season and another major boost heading into the World Tour.
The Reward
The biggest prize was not only the Sansar banner but three coveted tickets to FIBA 3x3 World Tour Deqing 2026. Miami earned the top spot. They will be joined in China by Amsterdam RABOBANK and Ulaanbaatar MMC Energy. The Mongolian side advanced to the Semi-Finals before falling narrowly to Amsterdam, then secured third place and the final Deqing ticket.
For Miami, it is another reward for a consistently strong 2026 campaign. For Amsterdam and Ulaanbaatar, the Sansar result delivers a place on the World Tour stage.
MVP
Miami's James Parrott was named MVP after another influential all-around performance. Parrott finished with 42.8 total player value, while leading the tournament in highlights, key assists and dunks. He also ranked second in blocks and third in drives, underlining his impact across every facet of the game.
Final Standings:
1. Miami (USA) - qualified to WT Deqing 2. Amsterdam RABOBANK (NED) - qualified to WT Deqing 3. Ulaanbaatar MMC Energy (MGL) - qualified to WT Deqing 4. Lausanne (SUI) 5. Liman (SRB)
Top Scorers:
1. Bryan Alberts (Amsterdam RABOBANK) - 38 pts 2. Riley Battin (Miami) - 35 pts 3. Titouan Vannay (Lausanne) - 31 pts 4. Henry Caruso (Miami) - 29 pts 5. Anand Ariunbold (Ulaanbaatar MMC Energy) - 25 pts
What's Next
Attention now shifts away from the Challenger circuit, with the FIBA 3x3 Europe Cup 2026 taking place in Antwerp, Belgium this week before the FIBA 3x3 U23 World Cup 2026 tips off in Wuhan, China next week.
The Challenger circuit returns on September 18-19 with the Hongcheon Challenger, followed by the Phoenix Challenger on September 19-20. The FIBA 3x3 World Tour then heads to Deqing, China on September 26-27, where Miami, Amsterdam RABOBANK and Ulaanbaatar MMC Energy will take their places among the world's best.
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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