Australia beats Japan
Latvia men and Australia women stole the show at the FIBA 3×3 U23 World Cup at the Hongshan Riverfront Park, with both national teams finishing the day unbeaten.
Latvia picked up wins over New Zealand and Egypt in Men’s Pool B, while Australia took down Japan and Kenya in Women’s Pool D. Mārtiņš Evarts Zviedris and Tayla Jean Brazel were among the day’s standout performers as the pool phase moved closer to its decisive stages.
Latvia produced a perfect day in Men’s Pool B, opening with a 21-16 victory over New Zealand before cruising past Egypt 21-9. Zviedris was at the heart of Latvia’s strong showing, scoring eight points and grabbing six rebounds against New Zealand as Latvia pulled away from a competitive contest.
Latvia then finished the day in style against Egypt, with Dāvis Skreivers scoring nine points in the 21-9 victory. The two wins strengthened Latvia’s position in Pool B as the race for the Quarter-Finals begins to take shape.
Zviedris was one of Latvia’s key performers throughout the day, particularly in the team’s opening clash against New Zealand. He finished with eight points and six rebounds in a 21-16 victory, helping Latvia establish control against a New Zealand side that had already opened its campaign with a win over the Philippines. With Latvia also claiming a convincing victory over Egypt later in the day, Zviedris and his teammates leave Day 2 with plenty of momentum as they look ahead to their final pool games on Day 4.
Australia matched Latvia’s perfect Day 2 record in Women’s Pool D, defeating Japan 20-11 before beating Kenya 21-12. Tayla Jean Brazel delivered an impressive all-around performance in both games. She opened the day with eight points and 11 rebounds against Japan, helping Australia pull away for a comfortable nine-point victory.
Brazel was again among Australia’s leading contributors against Kenya, scoring seven points while adding five rebounds and five highlights as Australia secured another statement win. The back-to-back victories put Australia in a strong position in Pool D as the team continue their push toward the knockout rounds.
Brazel’s impact went beyond her scoring numbers on Day 2. Against Japan, her rebounding helped Australia control the game as they moved to the nine-point victory. She followed that up with another productive display against Kenya, this time tallying a triple-five performance. With Australia going 2-0 on the day, Brazel played a central role in a pair of convincing victories. She helped her team build valuable momentum heading into the next stage of the competition.
Day 2 also produced several eye-catching results. Chinese Taipei stunned the Netherlands 14-13 in Women’s Pool B, handing the defending champions a narrow defeat. Kenya women also pulled off an upset against Slovenia, winning 18-15.
There was drama in Men’s Pool D as well, with Korea defeating the United States 21-14. Lee Donggeun led Korea with eight points, including three two-pointers, as the Koreans produced one of the day’s biggest results.
Spain and Lithuania also enjoyed perfect days in the Men’s Tournament. Spain defeated Egypt 16-15 before beating the Philippines 21-15, while Lithuania edged the Republic of Korea 20-18 and then defeated China 22-16.
Canada, meanwhile, went 2-0 in Women’s Pool B after beating Czechia 19-15 and Poland 22-13, with Mary-Anna Abigale Serena Asare producing 18 points across the two victories.
