There is a strong possibility that Serbia and Netherlands will meet in the 3×3 World Cup Finals for the second straight year, as the two European squads have made it into the 2018 FIBA 3X3 World Cup quarterfinals, Monday.
The Serbians and the Dutch both finished as the top two teams in Pool A. Serbia finished with a 4-0 card, while Netherlands went 3-1.
The two faced off in the 2017 edition, and the Netherlands flew back home with their hearts all shattered as the Serbians – spearheaded by global 3X3 icon Dusan Bulut – went away wearing the gold medal, 21-18.
The formidable units left behind New Zealand, Romania, and Kyrgyztan, who all finished with 1-3 records.
Meanwhile in Pool C, Asian 3X3 powerhouse Mongolia showed that they can go head-to-head with the world’s best squads, as the 3X3 World Cup debutants extended their campaign to the quarterfinals.
The 2017 Asian 3×3 gold medalists finished the group stages with a 3-1 card. Their sole loss came from Steve Sir and Canada, 15-21.
The Canadians, on the other hand, swept the pool. They booked their fourth straight win and the quarterfinal slot by dominating Brazil, 22-4. Moreover, Canada won over their opponents by a margin of 7.0 points.
Mongolia and Canada ousted the Philippines, Brazil, and Russia.
This is now the third straight year that the Philippines has not made it past the group stage. In the last two editions of the 3×3 World Cup in China and in France, respectively, the Filipino cagers also finished with 2-2 records.
The quarterfinal stage is now set. Serbia will face Mongolia; Latvia will take on Poland; Slovenia will clash with Ukraine; and the Netherlands will battle Canada. The games are set tomorrow, June 12, in the final day of the cagefest.
