Riga and Ub live up to the hype on Day 1 of FIBA 3x3 World Tour Jeddah Final 2021

JEDDAH (Saudi Arabia) - Reigning champs Riga (LAT) and Ub (SRB) impressed on Day 1 of the FIBA 3x3 World Tour Final in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on December 17, 2021. Here's our recap: 

THE TEAMS

Last year's winners Riga started their title defense with a perfect 2-0 record. Lausanne Sport (SUI) gave them a big scare and World Tour 2021 regular season MVP Karlis Lasmanis had to deliver a Tissot buzzer beater. Win number two was a little less suffocating against Princeton (20-14) to top Pool A.  



In a win-or-go-home game, Lausanne Sport defeated Princeton to qualify for the knock-out games.

Ub took care of business in Pool B, defeating both hosts Jeddah (KSA) and San Juan PCI Group (PUR),  Lausanne Masters MVP Angel Matias aka "Little Monster" stepped up against Jeddah with 10 points to win the game (20-14) and advance to the quarter-finals.

Liman (SRB) Amsterdam Talent&Pro (NED) ruled Pools C and D respectively and were joined by Antwerp and Gagarin in the knock-out rounds.


THE PLAYER: Angel Matias (San Juan PCI Group) 

The 29-year-old  scored 10 points in San Juan's win against hosts Jeddah, including two big shots in clutch time to silence the crowd.

He also finished Day 1 with 16 points, driving the Puerto Rican squad to the knock-out rounds. 



THE STATS:

Mihailo Vasic (Liman) had the highest player value (19), Karlis Lasmanis (Riga) was second with 18.7.

Stefan Kojic was the player to watch with 11 highlights, including a Tissot Buzzer Beater

Dejan Majstorovic (Ub, SRB) had 10 points against San Juan PCI Group (PUR), all coming from behind the arc.

Dimeo van der Horst (Amsterdam Talent & Pro, NED) finished as top scorer on Day 1 with 21 points

THE BRACKET

 
Day 2

Watch Day 2 of the World Tour Jeddah Final on our YouTube and Twitch channels!

 
FIBA