WUHAN (China) – Serbia men have completed a perfect pool phase at the FIBA 3x3 U23 World Cup 2026, going 4-0 in Pool A to secure their place in the Quarter-Finals and keep their pursuit of their first-ever U23 gold firmly on track.
Serbia opened their campaign with wins over Kazakhstan and Tonga on Day 1 before returning to action on Day 3 with victories over Germany and the Netherlands. They defeated Germany 21-13 before closing out Pool A with a 21-15 win over the Netherlands.
For Vuk Vukicevic, who was part of Serbia's silver-medal team at last year's U23 World Cup, the team's success has come down to the connection between the four players.
"Chemistry is everything," Vukicevic said. "Chemistry and mentality. This wins the World Cup."
The Serbia star also pointed to the challenge of arriving in Wuhan just two days before the competition, with the team having to quickly adjust after their journey and continue preparing together.
"It was tough," Vukicevic said after Serbia completed their pool sweep. "We just find the space, make more points, and that's it."
Vukicevic has been one of the key figures for Serbia throughout their campaign, but he was quick to shift the focus away from his individual contribution and toward the team.
"When you play for the Serbia flag, this is everything," he said. "I just want to say thank you to my guys."
Now, Serbia have their sights firmly set on the knockout rounds.
After falling to Lithuania in last year's Final, Vukicevic knows exactly what his team wants to accomplish in Wuhan.
"We are focused to take this gold medal," he said. "This is why we're here... we will see what happens in the Quarter-Finals."
Serbia will return to action on Day 5 for the knockout phase, with Vukicevic and his teammates now just two wins away from another U23 World Cup Final, and one step closer to the gold medal they came to Wuhan to chase.
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Follow all the latest action from the FIBA 3x3 Cups tournaments throughout the 2026 season by visiting the official FIBA 3x3 website, where you can find the latest news, star players and everything you need to know. 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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