Amsterdam RABOBANK Wins FIBA 3x3 World Tour Bucharest; Fuengirola Makes History

The Dutch team completed a perfect seven-game run from the Qualifying Draw to the Final, narrowly defeating Fuengirola, 19-17, claiming their second World Tour stop win of the year. The tournament also marked a surprising early exit for top-ranked Ub (SRB), emphasizing the competitive depth of the circuit and the breakthrough for Spanish 3x3 basketball.

During the Qualifying Draw, Amsterdam RABOBANK began with a pair of close victories, edging past Phoenix (USA) 21–20 and Lausanne (SUI) 19–18. They maintained this momentum in the Main Draw, winning decisively against Baskets Bonn (GER) and Toulouse (FRA) with scores of 20–15, finishing Pool C undefeated. In the knockout rounds, they faced tougher challenges, defeating Hangzhou Jingwei (CHN) 16–13 in the Quarter-Finals and Miami (USA) 21–18 in a high-scoring Semi-Final, where de Jong starred with 16 points. The Final against Fuengirola was tightly contested, with de Jong sinking the decisive two-pointer just as time expired.

De Jong's performance throughout the tournament was highlighted by his second MVP award of the season. He led in Player Value with 58.4, topped the scoring with 46 points, collected 20 rebounds, and ranked second in dunks. His contributions included a notable triple-five (six points, seven rebounds, and eight highlights) in the Quarter-Final and the crucial game-winning shot in the Final, reinforcing his status as a leading figure in 3x3 basketball.

Fuengirola, despite their loss in the Final, made history as the first Spanish professional team to reach a FIBA 3x3 World Tour Final. Their journey included victories over DeQing (CHN) 21-15 in the Quarter-Finals and an impressive comeback against Kaunas VDU (LTU) 21-18 in the Semis, where they secured their spot in the Final after a decisive late-game performance. Fuengirola displayed resilience and skill, challenging Amsterdam and tying the score at 17-17 before falling short.

Another significant moment in Bucharest was the elimination of Ub, the top-ranked team in the standings, who failed to progress past Pool A for the first time this season. After a 21-11 loss to Kaunas VDU and a 21-16 victory over Hangzhou Jingwei, their advancement was denied as all Pool A teams ended with identical 1-1 records.

The tournament underscored the competitive balance in the World Tour; seven different teams have secured titles this season, with Baskets Bonn leading the count. Despite their consistent performance, other teams like Liman (SRB) and Amsterdam have proven capable of competing at high levels.

As the 2026 season approaches its conclusion, with five stops remaining leading to the FIBA 3x3 World Tour Final in Rio de Janeiro on December 12-13, Bucharest reiterated the unpredictable nature of the sport. Teams still aiming for their first World Tour stop victory include Fuengirola, Skyliners, Shanghai, Ulaanbaatar MMC Energy, and others, setting the stage for an exciting finish to the season.