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.
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.”
