SINGAPORE — Mongolia capped off a memorable FIBA 3×3 Asia Cup 2023 as they calmed their nerve within the closing to seal a 21-18 win over three-time defending champions Australia, whereas within the ladies’s class, the Australians have been unstoppable as they capped one of the dominant runs seen on the occasion with a complete 21-11 victory over rival New Zealand.
It was Mongolia’s second title win after they lifted the trophy on dwelling soil in 2017, successful 19-14 over New Zealand. This win in 2023 is sweeter for the East Asian nation after their two losses to Australia within the 2018 and 2019 finals. In 2018 it was only a one-point loss as Australia gained 17-16. Within the following yr, Mongolia was trounced 21-9.
The Singapore males’s group made historical past as they registered their first-ever win within the competitors and secured a berth within the quarter-finals. Singapore males’s group was drawn into Pool A with the match’s favourites Mongolia and Chinese language Taipei. Singapore gained 22-20 in an exciting first recreation in opposition to Chinese language Taipei in extra time however went down 22-9 to Mongolia of their second recreation. The opposite Pool A match was a decent affair, however Mongolia got here out prime, successful 21-19 over Chinese language Taipei. Singapore’s group stage outcomes have been sufficient to safe a spot within the quarter-finals in opposition to China.
Of their match in opposition to China, group Singapore was down by 4 factors earlier than they managed to get their first level, a two-pointer by Thng Yong-An. Singapore tried to match their counterpart on the courts and, at one stage, was trailing by two factors at 6-4, however then China pushed up a gear and pulled away to 13-7.
Regardless of ultimately shedding 21-14 to China, it was a commendable efficiency by Singapore because the gamers didn’t let their guard down and tried to push their opponent till the top of the match. Thng scored one other level for the group, whereas his teammate Ng Shi Yu contributed six factors. Branson Tan helped his group with 4 factors within the recreation, whereas Jonathan Ng put within the final level within the recreation for Singapore.
The Singapore ladies’s group put up a valiant effort in each their Pool B matches. They’d a good outing in opposition to Chinese language Taipei, however luck was not on their facet as they misplaced 16-12 and went down 15-5 to Japan of their closing group match. Singapore was represented by 2021 SEA Video games debutant Sara Choong, Kang Yi Tan, Choy Ting Tang, and Lydia Ang Zi Yi.
Within the males’s competitors, Delgernyam Davaasambuu was named the match’s most precious participant after scoring an equal-high 31 factors and was joined within the Group of the Match by Australia’s Daniel Johnson and New Zealand’s Tai Wynyard, who completed with 30 factors and 29 rebounds in 5 video games. In the meantime, within the ladies’s class, Marena Whittle gained the MVP after pouring in a number one 43 factors from 5 video games. She was joined within the Group of the Match by teammate Anneli Maley and New Zealand’s Sharne Pupuke-Robati.
The New Zealand males’s group overcame a heart-breaking semi-final defeat to Mongolia to win the bronze medal over China with a convincing 21-13 win. Within the ladies’s occasion, defending champions, China needed to accept bronze after narrowly beating 11-9 Thailand, who had knocked out quantity two seed Japan within the quarter-finals. That is Singapore’s second consecutive yr to host the FIBA 3X3 Asia Cup, and they’ll proceed to host this prestigious basketball match till 2025.
Ship in your scoops to information@theindependent.sg
– Commercial –
