ANDORRA (FIBA 3×3 Europe Cup 2017) – The 21 participating teams were divided into 4 pools of 3 (in the men’s category) and 1 pool of 4 and 1 of 5 (in women’s) after the automatic seeding of the FIBA 3×3 Europe Cup Andorra Qualifier 2017, which will be held on 24-25 June.
Old rivals Spain and Slovenia will meet again in men’s Pool A. The two teams already met last year in the final of the Andorra Qualifier. Slovenia went on to win the Europe Cup title in Romania. Don’t sleep on Georgia who have shined in youth categories in recent years (quarter-finals at the FIBA 3×3 U18 World Cup in 2016).
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In Pool B, Poland and Czech Republic will attempt to make their return to the Europe Cup. It would be a first-ever achievement for Latvia with the men’s team.
3×3 powerhouse Russia, winners of the 2015 European Games, will be the main attraction in Pool C. Germany and Israel will complete the pool.
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Is Pool D the most unpredictable of them all? The Andorran hosts made an unexpected run at the World Cup last year, finishing 13th overall. Ukraine made an impression last year in Andorra, finishing 3rd and earning a ticket to Romania. Ireland as well is back in Andorra and watch out for the Greens if the high-flying Jordan Blount is back on the 3×3 court.
The best 6 men’s teams will qualify for the final. Meaning that the winners of the quarter-finals plus the two winners of a loser’s bracket will stamp their ticket to Amsterdam.
In the women’s category, just 5 teams will qualify meaning the 4 winners of the quarter-finals and the team that will survive the loser’s bracket.
Teams are divided in 2 pools of 5 and 4 respectively.
In the 5-team strong Pool A, reigning Europe Cup champs Hungary will avoid any other team that made the final last year. This won’t be a walk in the park though with the Andorran hosts, Estonia, Germany and Turkey.
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The Europe Cup 2016 runners-up Romania will be the team to beat in Pool B, where they will meet a Swiss team that finished 4th at the Europe Cup last year but also Italy and Slovakia.
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Fans can find more information about the event – including the full schedule – on the official competition website and react to the seeding on social media with the hashtag #3x3Europe.
FIBA