SANSAR (Mongolia) - Partizan (SRB) shrugged off sluggish form in style to capture their first title this season at the FIBA 3x3 Sansar Challenger 2025 on September 6-7. Here is what happened in the 12th Challenger of the season.
The winner: Partizan (SRB)
They were: No.1 highlights
Finally the real Partizan showed up. After a frustrating title-less season, Partizan recaptured the scintillating form that had made them a 3x3 powerhouse and a former champion on the World Tour.
They were desperate to arrest their slide having been knocked out at the pool stage of three straight WT stops. Partizan were on the brink of another early exit after losing their opener to Mongolian heroes Ulaanbaatar MMC Energy (MGL) in a thriller.
But Partizan ensured there would be no blushes after thrashing Kharkhorum (MGL) and then playing inspired in the knockouts. Playing their best 3x3 of the season, Partizan were inspired to roll past Liman (SRB), a rejuvenated Riffa (BRN) and Miami (USA) in a tight final.
The hero was superstar Stefan Milivojevic, who proved why he is known over the world as the 'Gladiator'. He flexed on opponents in an MVP performance that included a triple-five and a dominant 9-point semi-final masterpiece.
Milivojevic is clearly the barometer of Partizan, who are back in business.
The runner-up: Miami (USA)
They were: Most points
Miami fell short of their first title in more than four months, but it was another solid campaign for the No.1 American team. They cruised through to Day Two, where Miami put the foot down to blast past Carolina (PUR) 21-14 with scoring machine James Parrott coming within an inch of a triple-five.
Miami scored with ease through their first three games, but were in a semi-final dogfight against defensive masters Ulaanbaatar MMC Energy amid a febrile atmosphere. Mitch Hahn stepped up with a huge performance to lift Miami to a thrilling 17-16 dub before they fell short in the final against Partizan.
After a runner-up finish at WT Lausanne, Miami will be getting tired of falling at the last hurdle but their offensive potency - with Olympian Dylan Travis and athletic freak Henry Caruso also dripping wet - was again at the fore.
Miami remain absolutely one of the elite teams in 3x3.
The Final: Partizan 21-Miami 18
These highly-fancied teams combined for just one title this season, but Miami's form had been far stronger and they entered as the favorite. Travis' jumper was smooth early as Miami made a fast start in an ominous warning.
Milivojevic shrugged off a slow start to score five quick points at the midpoint as Partizan hit the front. The teams went toe-to-toe before Hahn stepped up with three straight points to give Miami a handy 14-12 lead.
Milivojevic and Parrott were going at one another as nothing could separate the teams, deadlocked at 16 apiece heading into the final minute. Partizan then went on a game-winning 5-1 run, closing it out with a Milivojevic free-throw to get the title they've so desperately craved.
The reward: Three tickets to WT Shanghai Partizan, Miami and Riffa qualified for WT Shanghai on September 27-28. Final Standings: 1. Partizan (SRB) 2. Miami (USA) 3. Riffa (BRN) 4. Ulaanbaatar MMC Energy (MGL) 5. Liman (SRB) Top Scorers: 1. Stefan Milivojevic (Partizan, SRB) 36 pts 2. Delgernyam Davaasambuu (Ulaanbaatar MMC Energy, MGL) 35 pts 3. Mitch Hahn (Miami, USA) 33 pts 4. Milos Supica (Partizan, SRB) 30 pts 5. Gintautas Matulis (Marijampole Mantinga, LTU) 30 pts Key Stats: - Gintautas Matulis dropped 14 points and 6 rebounds in Marijampole Mantinga's (LTU) pool win over Zavkhan (MGL). - Mongolian legend Delgernyam Davaasambuu had 11 points and 5 rebounds in Ulaanbaatar MMC Energy's pool victory over Partizan. - Riffa's pool victory over Carolina lasted just 6'38" in playing time to be the shortest game of the tournament.
FIBA