ZAISAN (Mongolia) – Ub (SRB) and Amsterdam RABOBANK (NED) made winning starts to their FIBA 3x3 World Tour Zaisan 2026 campaigns, going unbeaten in pool play to secure their places in the Quarter-Finals on Sunday. Shanghai (CHN) also swept their pool, while home favorites Ulaanbaatar MMC Energy (MGL) recovered from an opening defeat to advance to the knockout stage.
The opening day at Crocus Events Hall featured six Qualifying Draw games, followed by a full slate of Main Draw action. Toronto (CAN) and Bordeaux (FRA) came through the Qualifying Draw to complete the 12-team Main Draw field, while the pool games produced several close finishes and set up four intriguing Quarter-final matchups for Sunday.
Leading the way
Top-seeded Ub showed their quality in Pool A, overcoming a spirited start from local side Sansar M Bank (MGL) before pulling away for a 21-17 victory. Sansar played with energy and took an 11-8 lead midway through the contest, but Ub responded with a decisive 7-0 run to turn the game around. Ub then took care of Cibona Ph.Classic (CRO), winning 21-11 to finish the pool unbeaten and book its Quarter-final spot.
Amsterdam was equally impressive in Pool B. The Dutch side opened with a 22-13 win over Uzice Zlatiborac (SRB), with Maarten Bouwknecht sealing the result with a two-pointer. Amsterdam then faced a tougher test against DeQing (CHN), but held their nerve in a closely contested game to win 21-18. The result sent Amsterdam through to the Quarter-Finals with a perfect 2-0 record.
Shanghai joined the two teams as a pool winner, producing an impressive turnaround in Pool D. After falling behind early against Baskets Bonn (GER), Shanghai found their rhythm and took control towards the end to claim a 21-17 win. Karlis Lasmanis led the way with 11 points. Shanghai then completed its sweep with a 21-12 victory over Bordeaux, finishing first in the pool and advancing alongside Bonn.
Liman and Cibona secure QF spots
Pool C delivered one of the day's most competitive games, with Liman (SRB) edging Ulaanbaatar 21-18. The Mongolian side made a strong start and held the lead through much of the first half, but Liman gradually worked their way back into the contest. With the score tied at 18-all, Stefan Milivojevic knocked down a two-pointer to put Liman in front, and the Serbian side held on for the win.
Liman followed that result by defeating Toronto 19-12 to finish the pool unbeaten. Ulaanbaatar, meanwhile, responded in front of their home crowd, beating Toronto 20-15 to claim second place and advance to the Quarter-Finals. Enkhbaatar Onolbaatar led the way with eight points, including a key two-pointer late in the game.
Cibona also bounced back from their opening loss to Ub, dominating Sansar 21-7 to secure the second Quarter-Final spot in Pool A. The Croatian side built an early advantage and never looked back, with Ivan Vrgoč scoring nine points.
In Pool B, DeQing recovered from their loss to Amsterdam by edging Uzice 15-13. Zhang Dianliang paced the Chinese side with six points as DeQing held off a late push to advance. Baskets Bonn also progressed from Pool D despite its loss to Shanghai, having opened the day with a 21-16 victory over Bordeaux.
Shootout Contest finalists confirmed
The Shootout Contest also added to the day's action, with four players securing places in Sunday's Final. Adris De Leon of Toronto led the qualifiers with nine points, followed by Bordeaux's Alex Vialaret with eight. Nikola Tasic of Uzice Zlatiborac and Liman's Stefan Milivojevic each scored seven points to complete the final four.
Quarter-Finals Matchups
QF1: Ub vs. Ulaanbaatar MMC Energy QF2: Shanghai vs. DeQing QF3: Amsterdam RABOBANK vs. Baskets Bonn QF4: Liman vs. Cibona Ph.Classic
Knockout Sunday
With the pool stage complete, the eight remaining teams will return on November 15 for the knockout games and the Final.
Ub will face home favorites Ulaanbaatar MMC Energy in the opening Quarter-Final, while Shanghai take on DeQing. Amsterdam RABOBANK meet Baskets Bonn in another clash between pool winners and runners-up, and Liman face Cibona Ph.Classic in an all-Serbian-and-Croatian encounter.
With three teams finishing Day 1 unbeaten and the home crowd still behind Ulaanbaatar, the race for the first-ever FIBA 3x3 World Tour Zaisan title is set to intensify on Day 2.
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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