Germany (men) and Team USA (women) get wins over reigning champs USA and Netherlands respectively to win FIBA 3×3 U23 World Cup 2024 on September 15.
Germany (men) had their crowning moment in Ulaanbaatar as they won their first-ever Gold in tournament history. The core of Denzel Agyeman, Sidi Beikame, Leon Fertig joined by the mercurial Fabian Giessmann came into the tournament with experience and heaps of talent.
They clicked right away and went unbeaten on their way to the final where they took on the high-flying Americans. A game touted to be blockbuster delivered fireworks as both teams put it all out there.
While team USA flaunted their usual dynamic offense, it would be no match to the assertiveness of the Germans. Fertig ran the team’s offense while Beikame and Agyeman played key roles on both ends.
However, the star of the show was Fabian Giessmann, who has risen up the ranks in quick fashion to become the team’s go-to star. He brought in explosiveness and unmatched skill as Germany pulled away from the reigning gold medalists. An explosive jam followed by a dagger two by the young talisman sealed the game for Germany as they came away as 21 – 13 victors.
Team USA (women) went unbeaten on their way to their first-ever Gold in tournament history. They found a balanced offense thanks to the firepower brought by scorers like Sania Feagin and Harmoni Turner leading the charge while Azana Baines and Cotie McMahon rounded off their versatility.
They took on reigning champs Netherlands in the final, a game they found themselves trailing halfway into the action. They struggled to cope with the mismatches the Dutch created early on, but battled back with a calculated effort.
However, it took a herculean display from Harmoni Turner in the clutch who did everything to pull her side ahead. Consistent shots from beyond the arc and key defensive efforts gave the Americans the advantage, one they held onto to grab an 18 – 15 victory.
In the bronze medal games, the women from China took down the Olympic pedigreed Germans 20 – 14. FengYi Sun and JianPing Zhang put up 7 each, dominating inside the paint and from deep in tandem.
Spain (men) who had been marvellous all tournament showed out one more time in the battle for bronze as they took down a strong Lithuanian side 21 – 16. The incredible Gabriel Gil went off for 12 points in the victory, leading his side to a coveted medal.
The undeniable Fabian Giessmann stood atop the charts in the tournament, finishing as top scorer with a whopping 72 points. His offensive outburst all tournament capped off by a star game against team USA in the final earned him the MVP award. He would lead the men’s team of the tournament with USA’s Jameer Nelson Jr, who was a Swiss Army knife for his side while also finishing as their leading scorer with 52, and Spain’s Isaac Mayo who was on the lead of a red-hot Spanish side. He finished with 52 points on their way to bronze.
Team USA’s (women) Sania Feagin finished the tournament as leading scorer with 44 points over 7 games. Her offensive consistency and ability to control the game’s tempo played a key role in the American’s road to Gold.
She won MVP honors at the tournament and would lead the women’s Team of the Tournament alongside Dutch star Liselot skulk, who was the offensive lead for her team and was crucial on their red-hot form in Mongolia, and JianPing Zhang who was a lights out shooter in China’s way to the elusive bronze.
