{"id":15538,"date":"2026-09-07T08:43:30","date_gmt":"2026-09-07T01:43:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.infinitysport.asia\/news\/?p=15538"},"modified":"2026-09-07T08:43:33","modified_gmt":"2026-09-07T01:43:33","slug":"france-triumph-in-shanghai","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.infinitysport.asia\/news\/france-triumph-in-shanghai\/","title":{"rendered":"France triumph in Shanghai"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

France ended their wait for a FIBA 3×3 Women’s Series stop victory in emphatic fashion, defeating Rapid Bucharest of Romania 22-14 in the final to claim the FIBA 3×3 Women’s Series Project Redwings Shanghai Final 2026.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After finishing first in the three-way tie in Pool A on Day 1, France delivered when it mattered most, defeating Neftchi SOCAR<\/em> of Azerbaijan in the semi-finals before overcoming Rapid in the championship game to secure their first Women’s Series stop win of the season — and the biggest one at that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The victory also marked France’s third FIBA 3×3 Women’s Series season title, following their previous triumphs in 2019 and 2024.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

France entered the knockout rounds as Pool A winners after going 2-1 on Day 1 and topping the three-way tie on total points.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

They then faced a tough Neftchi SOCAR<\/em> side in the semi-finals. The contest was physical and low-scoring from the outset, with the two teams tied 2-2 early. France gradually established control, moving ahead 7-3 midway through the game before Neftchi fought back.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Brianna Fraser, who had suffered an early injury, returned to the court and helped keep Neftchi within striking distance. But Laetitia Guapo continued to make an impact for France, helping her team maintain an 11-8 advantage with under two minutes remaining.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Marie Man\u00e9 then delivered the decisive blow, hitting a big two-pointer to put France ahead 15-11. Fraser answered with another two-pointer, but France held on for a 15-13 victory and a place in the Final.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Awaiting them was Rapid Bucharest<\/em>, who had swept Pool B before defeating Netherlands 18-14 in their semi-final.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The championship game began as a tight affair, with France holding a narrow 4-3 advantage early.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

France then began to pull away. They extended their lead to 6-3 before taking control midway through the game at 10-5. Rapid struggled to generate consistent offense as France did an excellent job containing Marta Mi\u0161\u010denko inside.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

France continued to hold the advantage, moving ahead 13-7 with four minutes remaining and eventually building a 16-12 lead with under three minutes to play.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rapid refused to go quietly. Hortense Limouzin missed three free throws as France maintained a 16-12 advantage, but Rapid stayed alive when they cut the deficit to 16-14 with a minute remaining.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

France responded immediately. Marie-Eve Paget knocked down a crucial two-pointer to restore a four-point cushion before Guapo added a free throw to make it 19-14. France closed out the championship from there, eventually securing a 22-14 victory. Paget added a buzzer-beating two-pointer to put the finishing touches on France’s title triumph.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The victory made both Guapo and Paget three-time FIBA 3×3 Women’s Series winners, having also been part of the France teams that won in 2019 and 2024.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Guapo was at the heart of France’s championship run and was rewarded with the MVP award. The French star finished the Project Redwings Shanghai Final ranked second in total player value with 38.2, while also grabbing 22 rebounds, third-most in the tournament, and scoring 30 points, good for fourth overall.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Her all-around contribution proved decisive as France navigated two difficult knockout games and ultimately lifted the championship trophy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Beijing’s Li Ruoying was named the winner of the Young Talent’s Laura Award, recognizing the best U25 player of the Shanghai Final. Despite Beijing’s campaign, Li and her teammates fought through to the knockout stage and provided one of the home crowd’s standout stories.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Shibuya stun Kaohsiung field to claim Challenger win and World Tour ticket<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Shibuya of Japan completed a remarkable run from the Qualifying Draw to the top of the podium at the FIBA 3×3 Kaohsiung Challenger, edging hosts Taipei WanBao of Chinese Taipei 21-19 in a thrilling Final to claim their first Challenger title of the season. Kristaps Gluditis delivered the decisive blow with a game-winning two-pointer, while Taipei WanBao and Utrecht of the Netherlands also secured qualification to FIBA 3×3 World Tour Deqing 2026.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Shibuya’s journey to the title was nothing short of extraordinary. After beating Balige of Indonesia and the USA’s Phoenix in the qualifying draw, Shibuya carried their momentum into the main draw with a statement 21-15 win over hosts Taipei WanBao<\/em>. They then survived a three-way tie in Pool D to advance alongside the hosts before taking down Raudondvaris Hoptrans<\/em> of Lithuania 21-13 in the quarter-finals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Their biggest test came against top seed Antwerp pf Belgium in the semi-finals. Shibuya prevailed 21-19 behind four two-pointers from Gluditis, setting up a Final showdown with Taipei. Gluditis was named tournament MVP after finishing with 34 points, 46.2 total player value, 19 highlights, 13 two-pointers and 13 key assists.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

WanBao<\/em> gave their home fans plenty to celebrate as they battled all the way to the Final. After bouncing back from their opening loss to Shibuya by defeating Crvena Zvezda of Serbia 22-11, the hosts survived the quarter-finals against Princeton of the USA, with Mike Efevberha pouring in 14 points, including six two-pointers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Efevberha continued his outstanding run with 10 points in the Semi-Final victory over Utrecht, carrying Taipei into the Final. They ultimately fell just short against Shibuya but still earned a ticket to Deqing. Efevberha led all scorers in Kaohsiung with 41 points.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Shibuya and Taipei WanBao produced a Final worthy of the occasion. The Japanese side built an early advantage and led 15-10 with under four minutes remaining. Taipei refused to go away, however, as Efevberha knocked down a two-pointer to bring the hosts level at 19-19. With the title hanging in the balance, Gluditis stepped up. The Shibuya star buried the game-winning two-pointer to complete the 21-19 victory and send his team to the top of the podium.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Kaohsiung title came with a valuable prize – qualification to FIBA 3×3 World Tour Deqing 2026. Shibuya, Taipei WanBao and Utrecht all secured their places in Deqing. Antwerp finished third but had already pre-qualified for the World Tour stop, leaving Utrecht to claim the last available ticket.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Miami capture second Challenger title of season, lead trio bound for Deqing<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Miami of the USA are heading back to the FIBA 3×3 World Tour after claiming the FIBA 3×3 Sansar Challenger 2026 title, defeating Amsterdam RABOBANK of the Netherlands 18-14 in the Final to secure their second Challenger crown of the season. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Amsterdam and Ulaanbaatar MMC Energy of Mongolia also punched their tickets to FIBA 3×3 World Tour Deqing 2026 after finishing second and third respectively in a high-quality weekend of 3×3 basketball in Mongolia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Miami backed up their status as one of the season’s leading Challenger teams with another composed run to the title.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Americans swept their Pool B games on Day 1, defeating Zavkhan of Mongolia 21-12 before taking down Marijampole MANTINGA of Lithuania 21-13. Riley Battin led the way in the opening game with eight points, while James Parrott added seven in the second.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Miami then moved past Hangzhou Jingwei of China 19-14 in the Quarter-Finals, with Battin again leading the charge. In the Semi-Finals, Henry Caruso scored nine as Miami ended Lausanne’s impressive run with a 21-14 win.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Amsterdam RABOBANK delivered another strong Challenger performance to finish second and earn their ticket to Deqing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Dutch side opened with a 22-13 victory over Bayangol of Mongolia before falling to Lausanne 16-14 in overtime. They then produced one of the tournament’s biggest results by defeating No. 2 seed Liman of Serbia 22-13 in the quarter-finals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Amsterdam edged Ulaanbaatar MMC Energy 21-19 in a thrilling Semi-Final, with Bryan Alberts hitting the decisive two-pointer after Delgernyam Davaasambuu had tied the game at 19-all inside the final 15 seconds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Miami took control early against Amsterdam in the Final, racing to a 6-2 lead before extending their advantage to 14-8 midway through the contest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Amsterdam struggled to establish the rhythm that had carried them through the knockout rounds, and Miami remained firmly in control at 17-12 with one minute remaining. The Americans closed out the 18-14 victory to claim the Sansar win, with Battin finishing as their leading scorer in the Final with eight points.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The victory gives Miami their second Challenger title of the 2026 season and another major boost heading into the World Tour.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The biggest prize was not only the Sansar banner but three coveted tickets to FIBA 3×3 World Tour Deqing 2026. Miami earned the top spot. They will be joined in China by Amsterdam RABOBANK and Ulaanbaatar MMC Energy. The Mongolian side advanced to the Semi-Finals before falling narrowly to Amsterdam, then secured third place and the final Deqing ticket.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For Miami, it is another reward for a consistently strong 2026 campaign. For Amsterdam and Ulaanbaatar, the Sansar result delivers a place on the World Tour stage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Miami’s James Parrott was named MVP after another influential all-around performance. Parrott finished with 42.8 total player value, while leading the tournament in highlights, key assists and dunks. He also ranked second in blocks and third in drives, underlining his impact across every facet of the game.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

France ended their wait for a FIBA 3×3 Women’s Series stop victory in emphatic fashion, defeating Rapid Bucharest<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":15539,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_uf_show_specific_survey":0,"_uf_disable_surveys":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[44],"tags":[94,52],"class_list":["post-15538","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-international","tag-3-x-3","tag-basketball"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t