ANTWERP (Belgium) — Serbia have seen almost everything European 3x3 basketball can throw at them. On Day 2 in Antwerp at the FIBA 3x3 Europe Cup Crelan 2026, they were reminded once again that nothing comes easily. The top seeds handled Switzerland and hosts Belgium to move into the knockout rounds unbeaten, with Strahinja Stojacic pointing to a simple foundation behind their success: defend, stay together and raise the level with every game.
The clash with Belgium was particularly demanding. Serbia knew the hosts well from years of FIBA 3x3 World Tour battles, while the Antwerp crowd gave Dennis Donkor and his teammates an extra edge.
"We know Belgium very well because we've faced them many times on the World Tour, and they're an outstanding team," Stojacic said. "Playing on home soil with that kind of crowd support makes them even more dangerous."
Serbia responded by taking away Belgium's biggest weapon. With three dangerous shooters on the opposing side, Stojacic and company made perimeter defense a priority, refusing to give Belgium the clean looks that could change the game in an instant.
"We wanted to limit their opportunities from beyond the arc because that is one of their biggest strengths," he explained.
The result was another composed Serbia performance and another reminder of why they entered Antwerp as the No.1 seed.
Yet Stojacic believes the biggest challenge may not be any individual opponent. It is the overall quality of the tournament.
"In my opinion, this is the strongest level of competition the 3x3 that Europe Cup has ever seen," he said.
And the numbers behind the draw make his point. Every team in Antwerp arrived among Europe's elite, while Serbia's own pool featured Switzerland, the FIBA 3x3 World Cup 2025 runners-up, and hosts Belgium. The growth of the discipline has changed the equation, too.
"More players and more countries are investing in 3x3 basketball, and that's raising the level of competition year after year," Stojacic said.
That leaves Serbia with little room for complacency. Their reward for finishing top of Pool A is a Quarter-Final matchup against Lithuania, the defending Europe Cup champions. It is another heavyweight matchup in a tournament already packed with them.
For Stojacic, the solution is not complicated.
"Every time Serbia comes to the Europe Cup, the objective is to compete for medals," he said.
The path now runs through Lithuania. Serbia have only a short turnaround before Sunday's Quarter-Final, but Stojacic is already looking forward.
"We have 20 hours to recover, rest and prepare properly," he said. "We'll use that time to make sure we're ready to deliver our best performance tomorrow."
At a FIBA 3x3 Europe Cup that has reached an unprecedented level, 'Doctor Strange' and Serbia know that may be exactly what it takes.
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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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