Connect with us

Hi, what are you looking for?

Tiebreaker Times
2017-fiba-3×3-world-cup—dusan-bulut
2017-fiba-3×3-world-cup—dusan-bulut

2018 FIBA 3X3 World Cup

Serbia’s biggest threat is themselves, says Dusan Bulut


Serbia has flat-out dominated in 3×3 basketball.

Ever since the International Basketball Federation created an event for the sport, Serbia has won three of the last four World Cups – their only blemish was a silver finish in the 2014 World Championships.

And come the 2018 edition of the tournament, which is set to be held from June 8 to 12 at the Philippine Arena in Bocaue, Bulacan, the world’s third-ranked player Dusan Bulut is confident that the result will be the same. Sans any mishap, of course.

“I think [the biggest threat] is ourselves,” said Bulut, the 2016 FIBA 3X3 World Cup Most Valuable Player.

“If we play our best, I don’t think anybody can stop us.”

Who could doubt him?

Over the last two years, Serbia has romped the competition, winning a total of 14 straight games in the biggest stage in 3×3 basketball. Bulut credits their dominance to the familiarity he and his teammates have developed over the years.

For this edition, Serbia has retained the core of Bulut, Dejan Majstorovic, and Marko Savic while bringing in Stefan Stojacic – their teammate in club team Novi Sad.

“You can expect the same from us because we have a similar roster,” the 30-year-old shared.

“It has become a tradition in Serbia to tell you that without medal, you should not return home.”

Though winning has become a habit, the sport itself does not get old for a veteran like Bulut. The World Cup has given him and his teammates a chance to see new places and experience new cultures.

#ReadMore  Athletic Fil-Aussie Abadam commits to La Salle

This time around, he can’t wait to feel the warmth – and maybe even the wrath – of the Filipino people.

“Filipinos have enormous passion for basketball – no place is even close. Every time I’m here, it’s a blessing,” Bulut reflected. “To put myself in a situation to play in a World Cup in the [Philippine] Arena, in front of probably twenty-thousand Filipino fans…

“I hope to see them in the final, the Philippines in the final.”

Written By


You May Also Like

2023 FIBA World Cup

Serbia’s pursuit of the Naismith Trophy has turned into quite an odyssey, following another runner-up finish in the FIBA Basketball World Cup. The perennial...

2023 FIBA World Cup

Nikola Jovic promised to bounce back and help Serbia secure the gold medal next time around shortly after the team’s loss to Germany in...

2023 FIBA World Cup

After a long and painful wait, Germany has finally completed its climb to the top of the basketball world. The Mannschaft, led by Dennis...

2023 FIBA World Cup

And then there were two. After a grueling 16 days that saw 32 of the world’s best teams collide in three different countries and...

2023 FIBA World Cup

Serbia head coach Svetislav Pesic isn’t denying how important Nikola Jokic is to the program even if he skipped the FIBA Basketball World Cup...

2023 FIBA World Cup

Bogdan Bogdanovic was at a loss for words following the Eagles’ momentous victory over a highly talented Canadian squad in the semifinals that propelled...

2023 FIBA World Cup

Sometimes, even all the talent in the world can’t surpass time-tested chemistry. On Friday night, the battle-tested Serbian team dismantled a stacked Canadian squad,...

2023 FIBA World Cup

Bogdan Bogdanovic and the rest of the Serbian men’s national team received a significant boost the morning before their knockout game against Lithuania in...

Advertisement