University World Cup runners-up cut their teeth on FIBA 3×3 World Tour

DOHA, QATAR – The FIBA 3×3 World Tour Doha 2019 season was off to a spectacular start with the Doha Masters held in late April. FISU was watching closely, not only due to the close cooperation it enjoys with FIBA, but also because of the Mount-Royal team from McGill University, Canada. McGill had finished runners-up at FISU’s University World Cup – 3×3 last November and got the chance to participate in the FIBA 3×3 World Tour event, as a result of that performance.

Picture courtesy: FIBA 3×3 World TourIn Doha, Mount-Royal played two games against strong Slovenian teams, the first from Piran and the second from Ljubljana. And even though they lost both matches, the boys from Montreal feel they gained invaluable experience by competing at such an event.

“We all feel incredibly blessed to be able to participate in such a fantastic event,” said Noah Daoust. “Although it didn’t go our way, we competed well in both games and showed we belong among these great teams.”

L-R: Pieper, Cadogan, Mayali, DaoustFor Avery Cadogan, who had been one of the star players at the FISU event five months ago, the event was a memorable one. “The experience was great. The organisation of the event had a lot to offer to us, the basketball players and other members of the basketball community. The venue too, was very aesthetic and impressive.”

Jamal Mayali, one of the youngest players in the field in Doha, said his experience was nothing short of amazing. “Coming to Qatar for this event, I did not have any idea of what the competition would be like,” he added. “By the end I realized that this style of basketball is just as challenging and competitive as 5-on-5. I hope in the future I get the chance to take part in many more such 3×3 events.”

Riga Ghetto from Latvia won the tournament – their first Masters title – after defeating world No.1 Liman of Serbia, 15-14 in a tense final. The second Masters of the season will be played in Chengdu, China on 1-2 June, 2019. The fifth edition of the FISU University World Cup – 3×3 will take place in Xiamen, People’s Republic of China, from 30 October to 3 November 2019.

Picture courtesy: FIBA 3×3 World Tour