The second day of competition brought balanced duels, thrilling comebacks and performances that kept fans energized at the arena set up at the TV Tower Esplanade.
Early in the morning, one of the day’s most electrifying clashes took place: the men’s team from Vytautas Magnus University (Lithuania) faced the University of Melbourne (Australia). The match captivated spectators from beginning to end, with strong defense and aggressive offense from both sides.
Despite Lithuania’s 21–12 victory, the Australians left the court satisfied with their performance — and hoping for a rematch. “It was probably the toughest game we’ve ever played. They’re the gold standard of university 3×3 basketball, the best team here. Everyone wants to play these guys, so I hope we meet them again in the final,” said Australian player Josh McNally.
Games decided in the final seconds
A few hours later, Melbourne was back on court for a hard-fought game against Universidad Anáhuac (Mexico), with the Australian win secured in the final five seconds — a result of strong chemistry and teamwork. “Our chemistry is really good; we’re very close friends. It’s our first time playing together as a 3×3 team, and this is definitely the highest level competition I’ve ever played. We’re happy and excited for what’s ahead,” McNally added.
Speaking of last-second finishes, the women’s matchup between the University of Chile and the University of Seville also brought high drama. The Chilean team started strong, but the Spanish side quickly recovered, and the score remained tied until the final minute. The winning basket for Seville came with about 30 seconds left on the clock.
Hours later, the Spanish team delivered another strong performance, defeating Universidad de Azuay (Ecuador) by 22–7. “It was so much fun. We started really well, gained confidence and kept that positive energy going. It was my favorite game so far,” said Ines Rios Rus, from the University of Seville.
Shootout Contest
Saturday also featured the qualifiers for the shootout contest, the shooting challenge whose champions will be decided on Sunday. Qualifying on the women’s side were:
Lorena Segura Moreno (University of Valencia, ESP)
Antonia Andaur (University of Chile, CHI)
Sharna Ellen Thompson (University of Tasmania, AUS)
Bei Liu (Huazhong University of Science and Technology, CHN)
On the men’s side, the qualifiers were:
Gabriel Soto (University of Chile, CHI)
Erick Barea Samano (Universidad Anáhuac, MEX)
Gabriel Alves Silva (Universidade Paulista – UNIP, BRA)
Juan Manuel Cebolla (University of Seville, ESP)
The tournament continues this Sunday with the quarterfinals, semifinals, bronze-medal games and the women’s and men’s finals, followed by the awards and closing ceremonies.
21 Nov
