FIBA 3×3 World Tour reigning champions Ljubljana (SLO) won the first Masters of the World Tour season and clinched their ticket to the Bloomage Beijing Final after besting Team Saskatoon (21-14) on their home turf in the title game on July 15-16.
The two-time World Tour winners were undefeated in the ‘Paris of the Prairies’ and in the final broke the heart of the spectators, who came in numbers to support Team Saskatoon.
Tomo Cajic had a game-high 8 points in the title game, topped the scoring list and was named MVP of the tournament. His teammate Jasmin Hercegovac also contributed 8 points while Blaz ‘Birdman’ Cresnar added 3 and Ales Kunc scored 2.
Team Saskatoon captain Michael Linklater netted a team-high 6 points in the losing effort.
In the individual contests, Liman (SRB) star Stefan Stojacic dominated the Shoot-Out Contest while Justin Darlington (CAN) delivered his signature cartwheel jam to win the Dunk Contest.
The second Masters of the season will be staged in Utsunomiya, Japan on July 29-30 and feature Ljubljana (SLO) and Liman (SRB) again besides the World’s Number 1 team Novi Sad Al Wahda (UAE).
FINAL STANDINGS
1. Ljubljana (SLO)
2. Saskatoon (CAN)
3. Gurabo (PUR)
4. Hamilton (CAN)
5. Liman (SRB)
6. NY Harlem (USA)
7. Princeton (USA)
8. Humpolec (CZE)
9. Hamamatsu (JPN)
10. Montreal (CAN)
11. Rio de Janeiro (BRA)
12. Winnipeg (CAN)