UTSUNOMIYA (Japan) - The official seeding has been confirmed for the FIBA 3x3 World Tour Utsunomiya Opener 2026, taking place on April 25-26.
A total of 14 teams will compete in one of 3x3 basketball’s most established stops, with a mix of FIBA 3x3 World Tour contenders, rising teams and local challengers aiming to start the season strong.
Ub lead the chase
Powerhouse Ub SRB enter as the No. 1 seed and will again be the team to beat, led by Nenad Nerandžić, one of the most reliable performers on the circuit.
They are followed by Miami USA at No. 2, with Henry Caruso anchoring a team that returns to Utsunomiya after opening last year's season with a title run here.
Paris 2024 champions Amsterdam RABOBANK NED are seeded third, with Worthy de Jong bringing experience and playmaking to the half-court, while another Serbian side, Liman SRB, complete the top four behind the shot-making of Andreja Milutinovic.
Deep field across continents
The middle seeds feature a balanced mix of established contenders and emerging teams.
Raudondvaris Hoptrans LTU come in at No. 5, headlined by the inside presence of Aurelijus Pukelis, while Shanghai CHN at No. 6 rely on the scoring ability of Cameron Forte.
Germany’s Skyliners GER are seeded seventh following their breakthrough 2025 campaign, with Leon Fertig continuing to play a key role, while Toulouse FRA are positioned at No. 8.
Rounding out the top 10 are Antwerp BEL, which just won the FIBA 3x3 Shibuya Challenger, and Vienna AUT, with Antwerp featuring Jonas Foerts as they look to make an early-season impact.
Hosts and challengers ready
The remaining seeds include a mix of regional qualifiers and host teams aiming to test themselves against elite opposition.
Taipei WanBao TPE are seeded 11th, while Japan will be represented by home sides Shinagawa JPN, Hiratsuka JPN and Utsunomiya JPN, giving local fans multiple teams to support.
With depth across all 14 teams, every qualifying draw and pool game will be critical as teams compete for places in the knockout rounds.
Season starts in 3x3 basketball stronghold
Held in one of the discipline’s most established host cities, the FIBA 3x3 WT Utsunomiya Opener traditionally sets the tone for the FIBA 3x3 World Tour season.
With top seeds, proven contenders and local teams all in action, the FIBA 3x3 World Tour Utsunomiya Opener 2026 is set to deliver a competitive start to the campaign.
Full seeding list
1. Ub SRB 2. Miami USA 3. Amsterdam RABOBANK NED 4. Liman SRB 5. Raudondvaris Hoptrans LTU 6. Shanghai CHN 7. Skyliners GER 8. Toulouse FRA 9. Antwerp BEL 10. Vienna AUT 11. Taipei WanBao TPE 12. Shinagawa JPN 13. Hiratsuka JPN 14. Utsunomiya JPN
FIBA