12 Segundos #01 English

WHERE UNPARALLELED QUALITY METS THE THRILL OF THE GAME!

12SEGUNDOS #1

MARCH 2024

WWW.12SEGUNDOS3X3.COM

EDITOR

Juan Alberto Martín

docesegundos3x3@gmail.com

DESIGN AND LAYOUT

Juan Alberto Martín, Irene Blanco.

COLLABORATORS

Jaume Comas, Miguel Ángel Pérez Niz, David Planas, Jaime Alonso, Óscar Hourruitiner, FEB, FIBA 3x3, Juan Patón Roldán, Juan Manuel Robles, Marcos del Olmo, Javier Meras, Nelson Díaz, Jordi Fernández.

PHOTOS

Irene Blanco, FIBA3X3, FEB, FAB, Lemunstudio, Valencia Basket, David Martínez, cesiones personales.

COVER / BACK COVER

Lemunstudio / Irene Blanco.

Reproduction, in whole or in part, of the texts, photographs, and drawings published in this issue is prohibited, except with express agreement from the editors. 12 Segundos is not responsible for the opinions expressed by contributors or for texts and photographs that come into our hands without being requested.

www.12segundos3x3.com

J. ALBERTO MARTÍN - FOUNDER 12 SEGUNDOS

Who would have imagined that this moment would come, that summer of 2012, while watching Carlos Jiménez, Jorge Garbajosa, Lucio Angulo, and a certain Jaume Comas play an official 3x3 game on Teledeporte. Back then, in what was clearly my first contact with this sport, my attention was focused on deciphering why, when scoring a three-pointer, only two points were added to the scoreboard or what those numbers (team fouls) were that appeared next

to the points scored. Since that game, 12 years have passed, and precisely it is that “12,” the number that has marked the path. 12 seconds are the maximum that separates a possession start and a basket in 3x3, and 12 seconds was the name I chose, some years ago, to inform, help, and bring this sport closer to everyone interested through social media. Welcome to the birth of this digital magazine, the first specialized in 3x3. A sport that is still in its

#EDIT

infancy in our country but, as many of you know, is already an Olympic sport. If you are passionate about the 21 points, this is your magazine. If you are just getting to know the sport, too.

First, thank you to all of you who are there, for following us on social media, for reading our website, and because without you, this would not exist. To the magazine’s collaborators because without them, it would not be possible. To the brands that have

wanted to join this adventure. To Nico, for giving me the final push. And above all, to my better half in life and in the “12 seconds” platform, Irene, for her patience, positive energy, and being there at every moment.

Afterwards, I invite you to flip through the pages of the magazine, discover it, and enjoy it, as we have while creating it.

Who would have imagined...

2023 THE REIGN

Serbia was the undisputed king in the male category last year, dominating almost all competitions. The Balkans will pursue the missing title in 2024: the gold medal in Paris.

The Ub team celebrating the World Tour

#3X3MOOD

Spanish national team training camp last February.

2024 OLYMPIC DREAM

The Spanish women’s 3x3 national team facing a new opportunity to participate in the Olympics. They fell just short in Tokyo. Paris is the goal.

Hello, 3x3 family, I’m Jaume Comas, and today marks the beginning of the journey of the 3x3 digital magazine ‘12 seconds.’

It is, therefore, an important day as, for the first time, a digital magazine in Spanish exclusively dedicated to 3x3 is being created. From this space, I will share all kinds of stories, personal topics, adventures, anecdotes, and all the intricacies of the discipline that readers may want to know. Today, I will start with a bit about the beginnings of 3x3 and the reason behind my passion for this discipline.

It all began when FIBA3x3 aimed to take street basketball from everyday life and bring it to the Olympic stage. The initial goal was for the game to be played with the same rules in every corner of the world since, on the street, every town, city, or country played by its own rules, with some differences on each court.

With a set of rules in place, the main ingredients

were mixed to create the perfect recipe. They have their charm, and that’s why they are important, as each one includes a distinctive detail.

As I mentioned, it started with the rules, with a clear understanding that there should be significant differences from 5x5. Essentially, it needed to have its own style within basketball. It is mainly characterized by its high speed and pace compared to traditional basketball, aiming to create a fresh, dynamic, and fast-to-consume product for the spectator.

The idea and form were borrowed from how beach volleyball (2x2) carved its path compared to indoor volleyball (6x6). It also draws some aspects from paddle tennis, such as the ranking system, considering it an individual sport even though it is played in teams. One interesting detail I liked and found surprising is that the composition of the 4-player roster had a reason: they could all travel by car to play anywhere and arrive more economically.

With all these proposals, this discipline, which so

many people play today and seems to have no limit, began to take shape.

I won’t delve into the rules since this digital magazine already has a section explaining the game’s workings perfectly. Still, I’ll mention the ones that made me fall in love with the discipline: no stopping the game after a basket, a 12-second possession, and a 6.75-meter shot counting double the normal basket. Other curiosities about the rules are that, in a few years, they have been adapting and improving to meet the game’s needs. There are significant changes from the first written rules. Did you know there were players eliminated for fouls? Did you know a dunk was worth 2 points?

Speaking of the beginning, it’s worth highlighting that the starting shot was fired in 2010 when the first official 3x3 tournament with the format FIBA3x3 wanted took place at the Youth Olympic Games (YOG) in Singapore.

As a personal anecdote, my introduction to 3x3

by Jaume Comas

has a story... in the summer of 2012, I received a call from the Spanish Basketball Federation (FEB) that a 3x3 team was needed because the first World Championship was happening in two weeks. There we went, Lucio Ángulo, Carlos Jiménez, Jorge Garbajosa, and I, making our debut in the discipline. I never imagined that years later, I would be passionate about 3x3 and work on it with such dedication.

Since that summer, I began working with national teams at the Federation, and Ángel Palmi appointed me responsible for the men’s team. Twelve years have passed, and I have been able to experience 3x3 in a 360-degree perspective, globally, from being a coach, selector, trainer, advisor, event organizer, and eventually becoming one of the supervisors of the

COMAS

international Federation FIBA3x3. I am very happy and grateful to have received hundreds of calls over these years from people interested in one way or another in 3x3, and I have been able to assist them. 3x3 is growing rapidly. Right now, many people believe in the discipline and, in one way or another, are part of 3x3. The beginnings were tough, with a lot of loneliness and many seemingly insurmountable walls. This has changed, and I am happy when I see everything that has been built, is being built, and what is yet to be done. I will list the words currently associated with 3x3: courts, floors, teams, Circuit, Tour, Liga Indoor, super league, WS, WT, World Cup, Zone Cups, Nations league, Quest, Copa del Rey, Series, Colegial, Wheelchair Basketball, tournaments, academies, clubs, sections, training centers, categories, U13, U15, U17, U23, PRO, YouTube, influencers, jerseys, names, cities, selections, federations, championships, coach, strea-

ming, producers, photographs, content creators, refereeing, rules, licenses, media, websites, Instagram, digital magazine, Olympics, YOG, supervisor, events, wildcards, studies, physical preparation, statistics, news, Instant Replay... and we will keep adding more over the coming years.

To conclude this article in this issue, I hope to contribute a bit of everything to this magazine. Enjoy reading, learning, and getting to know the world of 3x3.

«3x3 is no less than traditional basketball. We are the younger sibling in terms of age, but we are here to share space with 5x5 and grow.

JAUME

In a large part of the world, we are already significant... By the way: WE ARE OLYMPIC!»

Photos provided by Jaume Comas

Some of the best teams in the world, in a competition never seen before in Spain. Three venues: Tarragona, Sant Feliu, and Badalona. Two tickets to Challenger and one to WT. The date: March 21-31

Nil Bria and Jordi Juanola celebrate a victory at the Lausanne World Tour.

FIBA3x3

#3X3MOOD

«Global unity through a common love: Family»

«It is my passion and the sport in which I love to compete»

WHAT IS 3X3 FOR YOU?

«Probably my longest love relationship»

«Companionship, competitiveness, and fun»

«It is my heart and my life»

«Mental peace. A space where I can be myself»

«The best school to take your game to a high level»

«A place to showcase my skills and talent»

The photos accompanying the messages sent by the protagonists. At the top, from left to right, ‘The voice of 3x3’ Montgomery, Stefan Milivojecic, Laetita Guapo, and Adrian Ocasio.

At the bottom, from left to right, Vega Gimeno, Sandra Ygueravide, Worthy de Jong, and Soraya Mohamed

A decade in the elite

J. Alberto Martín FIBA3x3/San Juan

Miami, September 23, 2012. Final of the first-ever 3x3 World Tour season. Two protagonists: Split and San Juan. The final score shows 20-16 in favor of the Americans, leaving Jonathan García, José López, William Orozco, and Andy García as the first champions of the FIBA 3x3 PRO Circuit.

«In Puerto Rico, we have always played 3x3, and when we found out about the circuit, we said ‘wow,’ this is for us. Although 5x5 is played in our country, I started playing 3x3 at the age of 11-12,” recalls Orozco in an interview with FIBA 3X3.

Since then, 12 years have passed, but San Juan continues to be among the world’s best teams. Along the way, successes, tough moments, and a clear commitment to the future of Puerto Rican basketball in 3x3.»

We review the San Juan project with Óscar Hourruitiner, the team’s owner since 2019.

The Beginning:

«In 2016, I was the Executive Director of the 3x3 Program of the Puerto Rico Basketball Federation. My goal was, from the beginning, to qualify our country for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. Being in charge of creating and implementing the federation’s 3x3 program involved a lot of work in developing youth categories, giving clinics in clubs and municipalities, developing and certifying referees and table officials, organizing many local grassroots

events, and popularizing 3x3 basketball throughout the island, in both male and female categories. It takes a lot of time and sacrifice.

Over time, I realized that the FIBA 3x3 world federation ranking to qualify for the Olympics is determined in the World Tour. That is, even if you do a lot of foundational and development work, if you don’t have one or several successful teams at the professional level in the World Tour, there is no way to qualify your federation for the Olympics.

At that moment, I changed my focus; I spoke with the President of the Puerto Rico Basketball Federation, my friend Licenciado Yum Ramos, and told him that I was going to resign from the position of Executive Director of the 3x3 Program to dedicate myself completely and privately to creating a professional team to play in the World Tour. It would be very beneficial for both the Puerto Rico Basketball Federation and the Puerto Rico Olympic Committee.

So, in 2019, I created the San Juan team. Initially, we only played in the Challengers in Riga (9th) and Bucharest (5th); and in the World Tour stop in Montreal (12th). That team was composed of this roster of 6 players: Ángel Matías, Tjader Fernández, Josue Erazo, Benjamin Colon, Jonathan García, and Wil Martínez. In 2020, we didn’t play due to the pandemic, and in 2021, we returned with good results that everyone knows, such as the championship in the WT Lausanne Masters (1st), the WT

Antonio Ralat celebrating one of San Juan’s victories.

PEDRO GONZÁLEZ

National

coach PR

«There are several things the team needs to improve in 2024; concentration and focus are essential. The mental aspect of the game, both halfway and at the end of matches. We have to enhance our spacing, particularly in attack. These are several aspects, among others, that we are working on.”

“The team’s greatest virtue is that they are genuine individuals, and beyond having talent, they are good people. They have a strong desire to improve and achieve special things»

Mexico City Masters (2nd), and the WT Final in Jeddah (7th). That roster consisted of Ángel Matías, Tjader Fernández, Gilberto Clavell, Jorge Matos, Luis ‘Pelacoco’ Hernández, and Josue Erazo.»

The Great Opportunity:

«I fell in love with 3x3 because it is very exciting. It’s basketball in its purest form, where you see players literally leave their body, mind, and soul on the half court. I also enjoyed the venues prepared for the most prominent events and have been fascinated by traveling the world and making so many friendships through 3x3.

From a commercial point of view, I saw a lot of development potential since you bring the event where the audience is, guaranteeing success for your sponsors. The prizes for players in the professional circuit have also increased significantly since FIBA 3x3 started the World Tour in 2012; I saw significant opportunities for players who wanted to dedicate themselves.

In addition, 5x5 basketball in Puerto Rico was not going through its best moment between 2016 and the present; in fact, Puerto Rico has not qualified for the Olympics since Athens 2004 when Puerto Rico defeated the USA. My brother Rolando Hourruitiner (played with Cornellá in LEB Oro in 2003) was the starting small forward of that Olympic team alongside center ‘Piculin’ Ortiz and point guard Carlos Arroyo; I still remember it very well, althou-

gh it has been 20 years.

Having said that, I saw in 3x3 the opportunity for PR to return to the Olympics because the way 3x3 is played and the physical skills required for high performance perfectly match the Puerto Rican player prototype. We don’t have much height, but we are very fast, have many skills, agility, great shooters behind the arc, and can defend intensely. I saw a great opportunity for us.»

The Loss of “Corky” Ortiz:

«(Sigh) The death of Andy in 2015 was tragic, not only for the 3x3 family in Puerto Rico but for everyone in the country. He was a young man, a tremendous player, and a better person who had just begun to stand out in the professional 5x5 league with the Mayagüez Indians, and with a small son who was unfortunately also a fatal victim of the traffic accident.

His impact as a 3x3 player, winning the first FIBA 3x3 World Tour in 2012 with our San Juan team, was such that FIBA 3x3 press and media personnel told me in a meeting in 2019 that before Dusan Bulut, ‘Corky’ Ortiz was emerging as the top 3x3 star they were promoting at that time.

As a player, he did everything on the court. After his death, the team decided to play in the 2016 World Tour representing the city of Caguas, as ‘Corky’ was originally from that city. In addition,

that year FIBA allowed them to use ‘Corky’s’ name on the World Tour jersey in honor of their deceased former teammate. The first WT that the Caguas team played that year was in Mexico City, where Caguas managed to win that stop, undefeated, beating NY Harlem in the final with a buzzer-beater from Wil Martínez to win 21-19.

After the game, the four players threw themselves to the ground, hugging, crying, and dedicating the victory to ‘Corky’ Ortiz. MVP Jonathan García mentioned that he felt ‘Corky’s’ presence during the tournament, and that helped him feel more motivated and able to win. It was a very emotional tournament.»

The Foundations:

«After a pause between 2014 and 2015, the team played under the name of the city of Caguas in the 2016 World Tour, won the stop in Mexico City, and reached the WT Final in Abu Dhabi, where Caguas finished in third place.

Puerto Rico, and the champion was the Ponce team, earning the right to play in the WT Mexico City, where they finished as runners-up. They did not reach the WT Final, nor did they play in any other stops. After seeing what happened in 2017 and 2018, I realized that we needed to take the professional circuit more seriously, play more events, as you gain nothing by playing just one event; that’s when I decided to refocus my efforts, resigned from the federation executive position, and created the second edition of the San Juan team for 2019.»

Present

In 2017, the Puerto Rico team that went to the WT was the Gurabo team, winning the Puerto Rico Open Quest. From there, players like Ángel ‘Little Monster’ Matías, Tjader (TJ) Fernández, and Jorge Matos emerged. Gurabo played in the WT stop in Saskatoon (Canada), achieving third place.

In 2018, the BSN N3XT league was created in

«2023 was an important year for us as we renewed our roster. We needed the players to leave 5X5 basketball and dedicate themselves completely to 3x3. The veteran players we had before decided to continue playing professional 5x5, so we managed to recruit very young players (24 years old when they entered the program) who didn’t have much playing time in the professional 5x5 league in Puerto Rico

(BSN) but had the necessary physical, anthropometric, technical, and quality skills to be successful in 3x3. This young group had already won the gold medal at the Youth Pan American Games in 2021.

The base roster consists of Leandro Allende, Luis Cuascut, Adrián Ocasio, and Antonio Ralat.

At the beginning of the 2023 season, without being ranked, our goal that year was to enter the top 30 of the ranking and qualify for at least one World Tour stop. Seeing that we were doing better quickly, those goals changed, and we set out to reach the WT Final, qualify for two Pre-Olympics, and win the 3x3 AmeriCup in San Juan. We achieved all the objectives!»

The institutional support

«It’s very important. I have the full support of the president of the Puerto Rico Basketball Federation, and he has a lot of confidence in what I am doing. Currently, the Federation provides us with finan-

cial assistance for player accommodation, ground transportation, coaching fees, and other expenses.

The Federation has also significantly supported 3x3 by bringing major events to Puerto Rico, such as the 2019 Pre-World Cup and the 2023 3x3 Americup. It’s a significant effort from the Puerto Rico Basketball Federation, recognizing the opportunities in front of us. However, the most significant contribution has come from the Puerto Rico Olympic Committee and its president, Sara Rosario, who included our players in the elite list of high-performance athletes. They support me with players’ financial stipends and cover all necessary travel expenses. We have access to physical trainers, recovery facilities, a gym, sports psychiatrist, and a nutritionist. Since winning the gold medal at the 2018 Central American Games in Barranquilla, they realized our potential and decided to support the project.»

Players focused on 3x3

«It’s a luxury. That’s how it should be, and that’s how all the elite teams worldwide operate, with dedicated players. In 2023, we had over 300 oncourt practices; I don’t believe any other team in the world worked as much as we did. Perhaps the Paris team (French national team) and the Ulaanbaatar team (Mongolia) worked almost as much as us, as they have similar projects, and both teams stayed

Photo left, Luis Cuascut showcasing his energy.

ADVERTISE HERE

Ángel Matías

About WT Lausanne Masters

«I remember it as one of the most memorable moments in my 3x3 basketball career. The first day was quite challenging for us, as we didn’t play our best basketball. However, the determination not to be eliminated and to keep moving forward gave us the energy and strength to overcome Riga, Liman, and UB the next day. This led us to be crowned champions, and I also received the MVP award at the WT Lausanne.”

“Honestly, we didn’t expect it, although we always kept in mind that we could compete with anyone, and we consistently demonstrated that. The second game on the first day against Princeton was the one that gave us the confidence and rhythm to play a great tournament and emerge victorious as the champions of the WT Lausanne.»

together throughout the year. I might say the same for the Serbian team in Ub. Outside of these teams, I don’t think there are others with the amount of experience and practices we had in 2023.»

Paris Goal

«For 2024, the goal is to improve technical details to close out tough games more effectively and consistently beat elite teams worldwide. We have the French Super League in February and March, followed by defending our Lausanne Super Quest champions title in April. All of this prepares us for our two most crucial commitments in May, from 3-5 (Olympic Qualifier in Utsunomiya, Japan) and, if we don’t qualify for the Olympics, we have another chance from May 16-19 (Olympic Qualifier in Hungary, Debrecen). The main objective this year is to qualify for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, and afterward, we will work to return to the FIBA3x3 World Tour Final in December.»

Olympic dream

«We don’t see it as a dream but rather as an achievable and accessible goal. We have two chances in May to achieve it, and we are working on our players’ mindset to visualize themselves in Paris in July this year. We have beaten the best, and they have beaten us. In professional 3x3 basketball, when your team reaches a certain level alongside the world’s elite and faces the same elite teams almost every

weekend, 3x3 becomes ‘nobody’s game.’ It’s only 10 minutes, and anything can happen.»

The “3 pa 3” in Puerto Rico

«In Puerto Rico, basketball is a way of life; it’s our main sport. The support from the local fans for the 3x3 events, such as the 2019 Pre-World Cup, FIBA3x3 San Juan Challenger, and 3x3 Americup, demonstrates the passion. However, there is a lot of lack of awareness in Puerto Rico regarding 3x3 as a FIBA sport and an Olympic sport. The common fan knows about street 3x3 (as we call it in Puerto Rico), which is unorganized and without regulations. That’s what is played in youth and adult tournaments in Puerto Rico. The general public perceives it as the same, and they are excited, saying ‘Go Puerto Rico!’ without distinguishing between professional teams in the World Tour and the National Team in World Cups or Americups. They don’t differentiate between events; for them, everything is the same.

In 2021, when the San Juan team won the WT Lausanne Masters, many people in Puerto Rico thought we were world champions for winning there. Some media even reported it that way, and we had to explain and clarify to some outlets that it was just a stop on the professional circuit. Even then, some still didn’t understand. However, this has gradually changed, and as we continue to succeed in both the professional circuit with the San Juan team and

Left photo, Ángel Matias celebrating WT Lausanne 2021.

FIBA3x3 world federative competitions with our National Team, the general public and fans will become better educated. Local players will also realize that playing street 3x3 won’t lead to success; instead, learning to play the Olympic sport of 3x3 with all its strategy and regulations will.

To achieve this, we have a plan where our national coach, Pedro González, will pass on his knowledge to new coaches and players who are joining our program. They will train alongside the San Juan team to try to have more professional teams from Puerto Rico successfully competing in the FIBA3x3 professional circuit»

Óscar Hourruitiner, San Juan owner.

How to qualify Paris

qualify for 2024?

#PARIS2024

FIBA University

1 (Hong Kong, April 12-14 )

1 spot by category

(Utsunomiya, May 3-5 )

1 spot by category

FIBA Olimpic

Tournament (Debrecen, May 16-19)

3 spots by category

Olimpic Qualifying Tournament

FIBA University Olimpic Qualifying Tournament 2

Qualifying

AND SPAIN...

The women’s team has secured a spot in the last one, where it would be placed in Group C alongside Japan, Egypt, and Mongolia. It could also be in Japan’s group if the Netherlands wins Pre-Olympic 1.

The men’s team is the first reserve for Pre-Olympic 3.

To compete in Debrecen, they need the Netherlands, Latvia, Austria, or Switzerland to win the Paris spot in Pre-Olympic 1; or Lithuania, France, or Latvia to win Pre-Olympic 2. SOURCE

remember :

The girls from China, USA, and France, and the boys from Serbia, USA, and China are already qualified.

The first Challenger in Spain

AGENDA

Lanzarote Challenger

July 27-28, 2024

Lanzarote, Spain

FIBA 3x3 Asia Cup 2024

March 27 – 31, 2024

Singapore, Singapore

Super Liga Pro 3x3

March 22 – 31, 2024

Cataluña, Spain

NEXT

events 2024

April 12-14, 2024

Hong Kong, China

April 27-28, 2024

Utsunomiya, Japan

May 11-12, 2024

Hongcheon-gun, Korea

April 23-24, 2024

Springfield, USA

May 3-5, 2024

Utsunomiya, Japan

May 16-19, 2024

Debrecen, Hungary

May 18-19, 2024

Valencia, Spain

May 29-30, 2024

Marsella, France

May 25-26, 2024

Zhanjiang Shi, China

May 31 - June 1, 2024

Marsella, France

FIBA 3x3 UOQT I

FIBA 3x3 UOQT II

FIBA 3x3 WS Springfield

FIBA 3x3 WS Marseille

Final Liga Indoor 3x3

Zhijiang Challenger

WT Utsunomiya Opener

Hongcheon Challenger

FIBA 3x3 OQT

WT Marseille

NEWS

HEADS AND TAILS

This season, the FIBA3x3 Pro men’s circuit will visit Spain. The Lanzarote Challenger will take place on July 27 and 28. However, the Women’s Series will skip our country, unlike in 2023 (Melilla).

Stops Women´s Series 2024

¡¡The Stojacic brothers together in UB!!

17

Paradas

confirmadas

World Tour 2024

SINGAPORE

12 men’s and women’s teams will battle between March 27 and 31 for the first major title of the season: The 2024 Asia Cup.

GIzpuzkoa Basket will be at the Belgrade 2024 Challenger, after winning the Winter League of Serbia.

ANTWERP RIFFA

This year, the Belgian team, 3rd in the grand final of Jeddah, changes its name to Riffa with the flag of Bahrain.

INTERVIEW

WITH THE #1 IN THE PORTUGUESE RANKING

JOANA SOEIRO

«I fell in love with this sport immediately, and I owe a lot to my teammates and also to Coach Américo Santos, who introduced us to it.»

J. Alberto Martín

FIBA3x3

Q: Joana Soeiro, 29 years old, how many of them have you been playing basketball?

A: I started playing basketball when I was only 6/7 years old. So yes, I’ve been doing it for over twenty years.

Q: And suddenly in 2021, the first 3x3 tournament in France. Were you familiar with this sport before?

A: My first 3x3 tournament in France was really fun, as I had just learned the different rules and ended up performing very well, becoming the MVP of the tournament. So yes, I immediately fell in love with this sport and owe a lot to my teammates and also to Coach Américo Santos, who introduced us to it.

Q: Shortly after, the first event in Spain, at

Herbalife Zaragoza. You lose in the quarterfinals against BeGoat, where Marta Camella and Helena Oma played. How do you remember the tournament?

A: Herbalife in Zaragoza was super fun, as we had to face very good teams with all these talented players. The game we lost against Be Goat was incredible, as it took us an eternity to finish it in overtime!

Q: We always see you playing alongside Marcia, Laura, or Emilia. Can you imagine playing 3x3 without them?

A: Definitely not. All the great moments I experienced playing 3x3 were shared with the group, which actually extended to 8-9 players who sometimes rotated. I will always be grateful to my teammates because all the significant victories we achieved were always team victories. Hopefully, we can conti-

Photos of Joana at the Europe Cup 2023

nue together and improve each time.

Q: In 2023, it was a great year for Portugal, with good results in Women’s Series and especially in the Europe Cup, where you finished fourth, eliminating France in the quarterfinals. Was that in the plans?

A: 2023 was definitely an incredible year for us. Keep in mind that we are all part of the 5x5 national team and also professional 5x5 players from August to May, making it much more challenging to prepare for Women’s Series, European qualifiers, and finally, the Europe Cup. However, we try to make the most of each Women’s Series stop and small camp/preparation moments that our federation provides. We always play to win, no matter the opponent.

Beating a team like France in such an important competition made us proud of all the effort and sacrifice throughout the summer. Small country, big heart.

Q: What was lacking to bring home a medal in Jerusalem?

A: As I mentioned before, at that level, federations that invest more in women’s 3x3 will end up having their players much better prepared to endure until the end of each competition and reach the medals. We also felt super tired and made some mistakes

“

I would love to achieve qualification for Eurobasket with our 5x5 national team and represent Portugal in the 3x3 Olympics before ending my career.

that cost us the game against Lithuania and the Netherlands (who ended up winning the gold).

Q: Where does women’s 3x3 stand in Portugal right now?

A: Women’s 3x3 in my country keeps improving every year, and our ranking and results can prove it. Overall, our federation is investing more and more each year, building 3x3 courts from north to south and promoting it.

Q: 2024, Olympic year. Unfortunately, Portugal is not qualified for any of the pre-Olympics... What is the goal for 2024?

A: Unfortunately, we haven’t qualified yet, but I’m sure we will, as we’ve already shown that we can compete against some of the best teams in the world. The goal for 2024 is to work hard and continue improving our results.

Q: You play 5x5 in Spain, at Embutidos Pajariel Bembibre. How are you adjusting to the new life in the Castilla-León city?

A: Bembibre is a very small city that I’m not really used to, but everyone here is super friendly, and a big advantage is that I’m only a 4-hour drive from my hometown in Portugal.

Q: Many players from the Spanish Women’s League in the 3x3 circuit. Who is your favorite Spanish female player?

A: It’s always fun to watch all the Spanish players play; they are all very talented and experienced. If I had to choose one, I would say Sandra Ygueravide.

Q: Finally, share a personal dream as a 5x5 and 3x3 basketball player.

A: Playing in the Women’s League (Endesa) was always a dream that I am fortunately living right now. Qualifying for Eurobasket with our 5x5 national team and representing Portugal in the Olympics with 3x3 are also two main things I would love to achieve before ending my career.

Photo from the match against France in the Europe Cup 2023

MEN’S INDIVIDUAL

CHINA

WOMEN´S FEDERATION

#WORLDTOP1

2023 WS CHAMPIONS

MEN’S TEAM

MEN´S FEDERATION

WOMEN’S INDIVIDUAL

#WORLDTOP1

HOW IS THE FIBA3X3 PRO

The FIBA 3x3 competition network is organized in a pyramidal system divided into three levels:

1. National Teams:

• National team competitions are held annually in three age categories: World Cup (Open, U23, and U18), Zone Cup (Open and U17), and Nations League (U23).

• The World Cup employs a dual qualification system based on federation rankings and the previous year’s Zone Cups.

• The Nations League is played in conferences, with the top teams from each conference qualifying for the Final.

• Zone Cups may have qualifiers based on the number of registered federations, and the World Cup may feature qualifiers if there is interest in hosting the event.

WORLD

ZONE CUP (OPEN)

WORLD CUP (OPEN, U23)

PRO CIRCUIT STRUCTURED?

Source

2. Professional Circuit (Men):

• The men’s professional circuit consists of the World Tour and the Challengers.

• The World Tour comprises a regular season with various Masters events and a Final, where teams qualify based on their performance in the regular season.

• Challengers serve as qualifiers for the World Tour Masters.

• Additional qualifiers include “Lite Quest” for a Challenger, “Quest” typically for the qualification draw of a World Tour, “Super Quest” for the main draw of a World Tour, and “Super League” for both.

3. Professional Circuit

(Women):

• The women’s professional circuit, known as the FIBA 3x3 Women’s Series, consists of a regular season with various stops and a Final.

• Each National Federation can register a federation team, while sponsors such as brands or cities can register a “commercial team.”

• All competitions, whether standalone or part of tournament series, are registered on play.fiba3x3, FIBA’s digital repository for 3x3 events worldwide, and are considered for ranking calculations.

WOMEN’S SERIES

Match lost

due to non-appearance (forfeit) or inferiority (default) in FIBA 3x3.

M.A. PÉREZ NIZ

#WHITEBOARD3X3

The solution that FIBA 3x3 employs when declaring a team’s loss in a match due to non-appearance (forfeit) or inferiority (default) is somewhat different from what we are accustomed to in traditional basketball:

Non-appearance (forfeit) in 3x3 (summary):

A team will lose the match if they have not presented or cannot present at least 3 prepared players at the scheduled start time of the game. In the case of non-appearance, the match result will be recorded as w-0 or 0-w (“w” for the team that appears, 0 for the team that does not appear). Additionally:

• For the winning team, this match will not be considered when calculating the team’s average scoring.

• For the losing team, this match will be considered when calculating the team’s average scoring, awarding 0 points in that match.

chooses to declare the non-appearance of the other team, the match result will not be considered when calculating the team’s average scoring.

Let’s look at an example in an official FIBA 3x3 competition (Women’s Series 2023, Baku Stop).

The results of Group C were:

Italy won their first match against Neftchi (155) despite playing with only 3 players (the 4th player got injured before the start of the event).

It can be observed that there are 7 players warming up, with the injured player off the court.

Inferiority (default) in 3x3 (summary):

A team will lose the match by default if they leave the playing area before the end of the game or if all players on the team are injured and/or disqualified.

In the case of a default situation, the winning team may choose to maintain their score as it stands or opt to declare the match lost to the opponents due to non-appearance, with the opposing team’s score set to 0 in either case.

In the event of a default where the winning team

Midway through the match, a second player from Italy gets injured and is unable to continue playing.

From that moment onwards, Italy played with only the 2 remaining available players. It’s worth noting that in 3x3, a team is allowed to match the number of players if the opponents have fewer than 3. This is commonly observed in youth categories but is unusual at the professional level.

See the 2x2 situation in the Spanish Championship U15 Italy couldn’t recover either of its 2 injured players, and for their second group match against Sc. Yuanda, they couldn’t field 3 prepared players at the scheduled start time of the game. Consequently, they lost by non-appearance (result w-0):

Therefore, for group classification purposes, this match is considered played for Italy (with 0 points) and not played for Sc. Yuanda, resulting in the final standings as follows:

It is observed that all the teams in the group are tied with 1 victory each, and the final standings are as follows:

1. Sc. Yuanda leads the group because the percentage of points earned in their matches was 14 (the points they earned in the only match that counts, the one they lost against Neftchi).

2. Neftchi follows, as in the 2 matches they played, they earned a total of 5 (against Italy) + 16 (against Sc. Yuanda) = 21 points/2 matches = 10.5.

3. Italy finishes last in the group because the sum of the points earned in their matches was 15 (against Neftchi) + 0 (against Sc. Yuanda – non-appearance) = 7.5.

As the head referee for the 1st Spain Championship of Regional U13 and U15 3x3 Selections, alongside the participation of 35 referees.

#FOLLOWTHERULES

12’’ POSSESSION

GAME CLOCK: 10’

21 PTS TO WIN

NO STOP AFTER SCORE

1 BASKET

1/2 COURT

2 TEAMS

3+1 PLAYERS

OVERTIME: 2 PTS

#FOLLOWTHERULES

Offensive Priorities in 3x3 Play

- Step by step to achieve success

-

by David Planas

The 3x3 Academy director

Passionate 3x3 enthusiasts, welcome to this space where we aim to analyze the game from a tactical standpoint.

Basketball always belongs to the players, but from off the court, we can assist them by setting clear priorities and ideas. When their heart rates are at 180 bpm, fatigue is overwhelming, and they’re struggling for oxygen to reach both lungs and brain simultaneously, we want their decisions to be as straightforward as possible.

In this first article, we will dedicate our discussion to outlining what we believe are the primary offensive priorities from our perspective:

what we want to achieve and in what order we prefer it.

1. 1v0 Unlocked: The Golden Option

The first and most coveted objective in any possession is the opportunity to get a shot in a 1v0 unlocked situation. This scenario, where a player has the chance to head towards the basket without opposition, either for a quick drive or a close-range shot, is the crown jewel in 3x3 basketball. We must cultivate the skill to recognize and capitalize on this scenario, ensuring that players are ready to turn these opportunities into effective points.

Examples of these options include a quick clear and a pass near the hoop (we’ll call it TIC-TAC), poorly defended roll options, slips, backdoors...

It’s crucial to understand that this prioritized option is achieved through teamwork and the combination of all team members, not through 1v1 play. This is one of the concepts that sets apart the top global teams.

There’s a statistic that proves this: the top 10 world teams have an accuracy percentage in T1 (within 6.75 meters) around 70%! Meanwhile, the best team in shooting percentage in the EuroLeague and NBA doesn’t reach 60%. Is this because 3x3 players are better than those in the EuroLeague or NBA? It seems evident that’s not the case. It’s also not due to lower fatigue or defensive pressure.

It’s clearly attributed to a better shot selection within the arc. World-level 3x3 teams, if they don’t find a 1v0 opportunity near the hoop, seek another priority.

2. Open 2-Point Shot: Expanding the Horizon

The 2-point shot is a powerful tool in 3x3, capable of turning the tide of a game in the blink of an eye. Seeking opportunities to create open space and generate a 2-point shot is a strategic priority.

Its double value compared to a shot within the arc encourages a higher volume of attempts from beyond the arc. Along with the shorter duration of possessions compared to 5x5, it urges us not to shy away from any open shot opportunity at any point in the attack. Whether it’s the 1st or 3rd second of the possession, if you have an open 2-point shot, take it! The probability of improving the expected value or PPT of that shot during the remaining seconds of the possession is minimal.

Note: The shooting percentages beyond 6.75 for the top teams in 3x3, NBA, and EuroLeague are similar, around 35-40%. The difference is that in 3x3, its

value is double that of a shot within the arc.

*Expected value or PPT is the expected value or probability of scoring with that specific shot. For example, if a player’s shooting percentage for a 2-point shot is 25%, the expected value of a shot from 6.75 meters for that player would be 0.5 points.

3. Closeout: Attacking Defensive Recovery

Let’s focus on the game now, but without sidelining mathematics. If I haven’t been able to create a 1v0 situation to finish near the hoop or beyond 6.75, we should look for a 1v½ situation. Since the rules don’t allow us to literally split players in half, we’ll aim to attack situations where the defense has a disadvantage. For example, arriving late or being unbalanced.

How to achieve this: with quick game actions, using feints to displace or unbalance the defender and then exploit it.

The speed of 3x3 basketball demands swift responses, and taking advantage of the closeout situation (when a defender quickly closes the space to challenge a shot) becomes an essential tool.

4. Provoking a Physical Mismatch: Punishing Inequalities

Finally, if through the speed or tactics in our game, we haven’t been able to create a numerical advantage situation (1v0 or 1v½), and we are forced to play 1v1 situations (statistically the least efficient in 3x3), we will at least try to make them as favorable as possible to our interests.

Nothing new at this point, all very obvious and following the classical theory of basketball—exploiting a physical advantage of a big player against a smaller one near the hoop, or a smaller player against a bigger one to exploit it away from the hoop, playing face-up.

But how do we achieve these situations when elite teams are designed and trained to minimize these disadvantages? This question will be explored in the next article. If we now have the answer to the question: What do we want to achieve, in the next installment, we will learn how to achieve it.

Curso online para entrenadores y jugadores de todos los niveles.

Sessiones de entrenamiento para jugadores/as desde u10 a Senior PRO.

Tecnificaciones basadas en el juego 3x3.

Organización de eventos y promoción Clinics personalizados

#THEINTERVIEW

CARLOS MARTÍNEZ

«The key to happiness is not lowering your ambition but rather adjusting your expectations.»

2023 was the year of his definitive breakthrough on the world circuit. The Galician player, ranked 25th globally and leading the Spanish rankings, faces a new season in the global elite.

J. Alberto Martín FIBA3x3/Cedidas

Q: When does your passion for basketball begin?

A: I have always been the tallest in my class and also the tallest in all the sports I played. I started playing football, then table tennis, and basketball. There was a year when I juggled all three sports and competed in them. I even became the Galician champion in table tennis at a young age, playing multiple sports on weekends. So, my parents told me I had to choose one, and coincidentally, that was when I received a call from the Coruña and Galician basketball selections. That’s how I got hooked on the sport of basketball. Later, at the age of 18, I received a call from the Spanish national team for a 5x5 concentration, and two years later, I joined Baskonia. It all happened quite fast because I started playing basketball when I was 11 or 12 years old.

Q: How do you remember your debut in EuroLeague/ACB?

A: It was a dream come true. When you’re living in the moment, you don’t see it as something so significant because you’re not even aware of what’s happening, and you’re very young. Now, when I play, I am more aware of everything, but at that time, with nerves, a desire to please, debuting at the Buesa Arena against Olympiacos with Spanoulis, and Scariolo giving me the opportunity, there’s no time to process it.

Q: What do you owe to Baskonia?

A: I believe I owe a lot. On one hand, it taught me the work ethic, understanding what it means to be a professional player, and on the other hand, a very resilient mentality, a winning and professio-

nal mentality. Keep in mind that at the age of 14, we trained every day morning and evening, before and after school, with four days a week of physical training and two weekend games. The level of fatigue, physical and mental demand was absolute, and you couldn’t let your guard down. That experience provided me with mental strength. Also, learning what it takes to be a professional player and achieve success in life.

Q: After several years in LEB, when did you realize or what happened that made you consider leaving 5x5?

A: It came from a situation I didn’t want to be in, but looking back, I have to be grateful for it. After four years in LEB Oro, following my time at Baskonia, I had a good season, but that summer I got injured. I had other offers from ACB teams, but I broke the fifth metatarsal in my foot, and I returned to Coruña with a plan to be at home, be a local player, and have a project to promote and a future. However, in the second year, the coach and the club decided to exclude me from the team, and COVID arrived. So, I found myself in a situation where I

was uncomfortable, even though basketball had always been my ultimate passion. It was a tough situation for me, but it was an opportunity to reinvent myself, and here I am.

Q: Let’s talk about 3x3, about the beginning. Did you receive a call from Jaime Alonso, or how did it happen?

A: Jaime worked with my agent, and we were looking at offers for that year. We had offers from LEB Oro and from abroad, but it was a time of great uncertainty. He mentioned that 3x3 was growing a lot outside Spain and knew about my interests as an entrepreneur and in forming companies. He expressed interest in doing something together. Initially, we didn’t know if it would be an event, a team, or what to organize. So, we spent that summer studying the possibility of doing something together, and that’s how Onil 3x3 was born. We saw that what was happening in Spain and abroad didn’t match, and we identified an asymmetric risk. Also, with the postponed Olympics, we thought it was a crucial time to position ourselves as a team. The main objective was not only to have a 3x3 team but to create parallel activities that could maintain a structure and a series of recurring incomes, not necessarily depending on sponsors or subsidies. Regarding Onil3x3 in 2024, I think it is 90% what I had imagined when we created it.

Q: Asian adventures and Lausanne have given you the definitive takeoff as a top world player.

A: The beginning was tough, with COVID; we trained and returned home for many months with

It was a dream come true.

limited resources. Gradually, we started making progress, traveling throughout Europe. In the second year, I received an offer from India, and from there, I played for three and a half months in different Asian countries. I also received an invitation to BL 5x5, and Lausanne contacted me to play in some tournaments with them.

I discussed it with my team, they were supportive, and I joined them. Initially, things didn’t go well, but in the fourth tournament, we reached a World Tour final, and my commitment to the Swiss team increased. I balanced it with Onil. In 2022, we reached an agreement with Gipuzkoa Basket to be their face and develop 3x3 in Guipúzcoa through Globall and Onil 3x3. In the third year, the goal was similar. I renewed with Lausanne to play PRO Tour, but we didn’t expect to play as much and with such

On the left, Carlos with the Baskonia jersey. On the right, celebrating victory with Onil 3x3 at the Red Bull Tournament in L’Alqueria del Basket.

good results. We won two Challengers, reached the final of a World Tour for the second consecutive year, demanding more time and allowing me to play less with Onil3x3/Gipuzkoa Basket.

Q: Is there a renewal in 2024 with Lausanne?

A: Yes, we renew on a yearly basis. I’m moving to Switzerland; it’s a personal commitment.

Q: Being the top-ranked Spanish player and a top 25 global player was part of the initial plans soon after starting your 3x3 career.

A: Well, initially, there were many things I thought could happen that didn’t, like playing in the World Tour in the first year. Conversely, many unexpected opportunities arose, such as playing in Asia in 2021, traveling worldwide, visiting over 20 countries per year for games. Regarding the development, we knew that by forming the first professional team and dedicating ourselves solely to it, we would have an advantage in certain aspects if opportunities arose. Being number one only means I have more points than others; it doesn’t necessarily make me the best player; that’s more subjective. Of course, in my plans, I’ve always been as ambitious as possible, but without letting it take away or make me compare myself with others, nor diminish my happiness. In my mind, I aim to be the best or have my team be number one. But that won’t divert me from my true objective, which is to improve and find happiness along the way.

Q: What have you improved the most in the last 2 years?

A: Well, I think, on one hand, experience has made me play more calmly. On the other hand, in high-level tournaments, in such an intense sport, in Challenger or World Tour matches where fatigue is higher and precision isn’t very high, you have to add a point of tension, of not being relaxed, and I think I’ve achieved that. I’ve also improved in terms of spaces, off-the-ball play, understanding the game, and being versatile. I’m not a player with many highlights, but I try to be as effective as possible, the type of player I’d like to play with. I try to adapt to that profile, where a teammate can say, “I know Carlos will be in the right place.”

Q: Is that your strong point?

A: I would say yes, and then competitiveness. I don’t know if to call it competitiveness or competitive intelligence and teamwork. I’ve been on many 3x3 teams over the years, and when I have some time to put together a competitive team, in the end, we get results. It helps a lot to seek that chemistry or try to adapt to what the other teammates have. I can provide that versatility, making the team I play on better.

Q: How do you handle defeats?

A: Being so competitive, I savor victories a lot, but I also feel defeats deeply. However, I handle it better every day. When you haven’t won, you want to show

that you can win, so those defeats bother you more. It’s true that I handle it better now because there have been many tournaments. If we played a tournament per year, a defeat would bother me more than if we played challengers all year, as is our case. Ultimately, as I mentioned before, that experience naturally gives you tranquility; it’s not something you can train.

Q: How many tournaments did you play in 2023? Do you ever wake up and not know where you are?

A: In 2023, I played in 36 tournaments worldwide. I take care of myself a lot, and I even try to prevent jet lag. If I know I’m going to a place with a significant time difference, I try to prevent it in the days before. There is specific supplementation for this, like melatonin, and I also try to stay well-hydrated, maintain a good diet, and rest when needed. Ob-

viously, it’s tough, but it’s part of the game, and it’s tough for the rest of the teams too. And yes, I can assure you; I’ve woken up in many places and said, “The bathroom is to the right or to the left.”

Q: Do you make friends on the Pro Circuit?

A: Yes, many. Unlike other team sports, where you go with your team to play in another city and are alone with your team, in the 3x3 circuit, you’re always with all the players, sharing hotels (similar to 5x5 Copa del Rey style), and you build a lot of friendships, playing cards (we play a lot with the UB team) or discussing current affairs.

Q: And enemies? Are there rivalries?

A: I know they exist. It’s true that you always have teams you want to beat, not necessarily because you get along more or less with them but because you want to win against them. However, it’s always

within the natural context of the sport, no rivalries of hatred, or at least from my side, there aren’t any, beyond the competitiveness of the sport.

Q: Best player you’ve faced?

A: I don’t know; I think of it more as a team. Like, “please don’t let me play against this well-oiled team.” There are teams that, depending on the moment or your roster, you don’t want to cross paths with. For example, UB, when they are in top form and playing, they are very challenging to stop, not just physically but because they play very fast and have clear roles. Antwerp is tough to play against. Vienna, Austria had a good season last year; they are tough, and Ulaanbaatar, not particularly fast, but very strong.

Q: You’ve shared a team with Bulut. Is it as easy as it seems?

A: He makes it look very easy, as you’ve seen in certain tournaments this year. I’m happy to receive advice and experiences that I don’t have because he has many years in this. He has played not only FIBA 3x3 but also in the United States, where there is a high NBA level. He brings that experience of calm-

ness in crucial moments, that extra factor you can’t buy or train, knowing what decision to make or how to defend whom, and that makes him different.

Q: Any 3x3 thorn you want to remove in 2024?

A: I would like the Spanish national team to achieve some goals. For me, the biggest excitement would be to qualify for the Olympics. If we could also qualify for the European Championship, it would be a thorn that we would remove from previous years, demonstrating that we are taking the right steps, gradually.

And with Lausanne, I would like to win a World Tour this year and at least repeat the results we’ve had so far.

Q: Things haven’t been working out with the men’s national team so far. What’s missing?

A: I think it’s a matter of time and specialization. As players gradually specialize, and teams play in the Pro Tour, gaining the experience I mentioned, possibly brought by the generational change. Keep in mind that the other national teams you play against are World Tour teams. Belgium is Antwerp, and the

“

I believe Spain will be at 90% in the Pre-Olympics.

Left photo, the joy of Carlos and Gilles at the Lausanne World Tour

Netherlands is Amsterdam. These are teams I’ve won and lost against many times, but if you play the first tournament and the match against them without having competed at these levels before, it’s very challenging to beat them.

Q: Do you see yourself in the Pre-Olympics?

A: I think Spain will be there. I am 90% confident that one of the previous pre-Olympics will be won by a European, granting us the spot. What I don’t like is that we don’t control our destiny, but I believe we’ll be there.

Q: Your happiest day since becoming a 3x3 player?

A: There are several, depending on the steps you take, because it’s a sport full of emotions. For example, the first year we won a tournament in Lithuania with Onil 3x3. We had been working for months, as we discussed before, and we went to Lithuania and won our first international tournament, which was a relief, saying that the effort was worth it.

On the other hand, the first call from the Spanish national team, the debut, and the subsequent experiences. And the first Challenger in Mongolia that we won this year. Lausanne hadn’t won any circuit tournament in seven years, and we knew it was a turning point for more to come. I remember seeing my teammates Gilles and West excited, and it was very special for me.

Q: And the toughest moment?

A: The final of the Lausanne World Tour hurt a lot; I was very down for two days, and it affected me especially. And then, the defeats with the national team or when goals aren’t met with them also hurt because I feel part of the team and would like to help achieve success.

Q: Can an average player on the PRO circuit make a living from 3x3?

A: The answer is yes, but it depends. There’s no one formula for doing it; there are many paths. Some players live off their team contracts, others from salaries from national federations or the Olympic Committee. There are also players who live off private leagues in China, Japan, or other countries. Then there are players on the Pro Circuit who may not have a salary and live off prizes, perhaps not as well as others. It’s a difficult answer.

Q: Besides being a player, you are an entrepreneur. Tell us about your non-sports projects. A: I have two entrepreneurial projects. One is Globall, which we talked about before, a sports holding with different activities and services. And on the other hand, Ecobollution, which started as a social action, with no idea of commercializing products, but organically we positioned ourselves. The first product we launched was a basketball net made from fishing nets, and from there, three years later, we are in Decathlon throughout Spain and many countries. We have collaborations with the NBA and La Liga, and we are expanding the range of web products. I see it as a space to make a better world through sports, and we do a lot of 360 activities with that mission.

Left photo; Carlos with the Spanish national team in a PreEuro. On the right and from top to bottom, Talk about his Ecoballution project, Onil’s victory in the FCBQ Circuit, and an interview with Marc Gasol.

THE MAGICIAN

Talking about Carlos, with Jaime Alonso.

«I met Carlos when he was just 19 years old. He had just signed his professional contract with Baskonia, and I was entering a player representation agency. Although my journey as a representative began earlier, I could say that Carlos was the first player I represented in the new agency. The first impression he gave me was that he was a serious guy, very focused, and had interests outside the court, which was an initial sign of our chemistry.

At that time, the Basque team didn’t know if he would finally be the 12th player on the first team or not. In the end, a decision came late, and I arranged a loan for him that year to Lucentum de Alicante, where he played in LEB Plata during the 2015-2016 season.

We had good communication from the start. The first time we met, we went to a restaurant, and he did magic. He pulled out cards and did a trick that left me very surprised. Since then, his magic as a person and as a player has never stopped surprising me.

How did he get into 3x3? The following season with Baskonia, he moved to Oviedo, had a great season, and they became champions of the Queen’s

Cup. After that, he signed with Clavijo, averaging 17 in valuation, which attracted interest from Andorra, Breogan, or Obradoiro. Still, he ended up signing with Básquet Coruña, and after a good year, he started getting fewer minutes, was less relied upon, and then COVID arrived, everything started to get complicated, and he decided to close his chapter in 5x5. What a decision by the Galician! His commitment to himself always caught my attention—his seriousness, discipline, a constant desire to learn, access knowledge; he is someone whose mind is very demanding outside of basketball.

My bet on Carlos was clear, for his profile, knowing he was demotivated, understanding my analysis of 3x3, the project, and also because he had a background in finance and business, an area where I had many shortcomings. I knew he was the perfect travel companion and became my partner.

We both share a passion for basketball but also a passion for learning. Even before 3x3, we talked about travel, experiencing cultures, learning languages, digital advances—in short, many interests that we both share. We have a solid friendship, full of trust to talk about any topic, and although we sometimes have different viewpoints because we are

different people, I believe that, in the end, we make a good team and a great unit.

We have a common dream, which is to manage a professional team that strives to be in the top 5 in the world. Obviously, to reach that goal, many previous steps must be taken, and right now, we are in full construction. Hence, we not only focus on the PRO team, but we also manage other related projects, whether in terms of dissemination or event execution. We are very motivated because we love what we do.

What can stop this? Nothing. We have a very solid foundation built

over these four years, and now we just have to nurture it and continue with this very good human team that we have formed around us and that is already our family.

Carlos, the player, and Carlos, the entrepreneur, have the same potential. He is already the top 1 3x3 player in Spain, and for me, he is also at the top of entrepreneurship in Spain, with much room for improvement and a lot of potential. As a player, he will have a physical expiration date, hopefully many years from now. Still, as an entrepreneur, there is no expiration, so I like to think that he can achieve very high goals.

He is a different player for many reasons, but mainly because of his discipline, the education he has received, his sports education, habits, and environment. He is a player with a great understanding of basketball, knows the spaces, can distinguish advantages, perfectly understands block orientations, both dribbling and setting. In short, he is a mind born for basketball, and add to that his physical conditions. Two meters tall, uses both hands, can dribble, shoot, withstand a big man.

Today he is a very versatile player. Developing as a handler during his first two seasons in Onil and then the first season with Lausanne playing as a big man has given him the crucial versatility at the WT level. Knowing also that he still has room to develop more aspects of his game.

Limits? He set out to be the best in the world, and I understand that as long as that is a possibility, that will be his limit.

In five years, I imagine him with the Onil jersey, fighting for everything. And who knows, by then, he may have played in the Olympics. In that case, it won’t be magic; it will be consistency and work, and Carlos, no one beats him at that»

TOP 20 RANKING

CARLOS MARTÍNEZ 1º

613.518 PTS

2º

6º. Nil Bria - 81,875

7º. Jose Blázquez - 67,393

8º. Jordi Juanola - 65,465

GUIM EXPÓSITO

105.541 PTS

3º

9º. Jaume Zanca - 62,293

10º. Alejandro Harguindey - 56,095

11º. Alejandro Bellver - 55,250

ISAAC MAYO

104.715 PTS

4º

12º. Pol Barbecho - 54,829

13º. Rubén Salas - 53,174

14º. Juanjo Santana - 39,000

DIEGO DE BLAS

99.645 PTS

5º

15º. Guillem Arcos - 37,555

16º. Imanol Martínez - 31,381

17º. Javier Herrero - 30,632

FALLOU NINANG

84.922 PTS

18º. Alfonso Jose Ribera - 28,124

19º. Santiago Vázquez - 26,860

20º. Juan Manuel Robles - 24,220

RANKING SPAIN

6º. Marta Canella - 52,292

7º. Helena Pueyo - 44,948

8º. Alejandra Sánchez - 44,862

9º. Alba Prieto - 44,396

10º. Laura Méndez - 43,907

11º. Mariona Planes - 36,140

12º. Carolina Guerrero - 31,444

13º. Andrea Hernangómez - 30,649

14º. Júlia Rueda - 29,348

15º. Ana Palma - 28,342

16º. Begoña De Santiago - 23,076

17º. Gemma Núñez - 21,645

18º. Emma Trawally - 20,540

19º. Gala Mestres - 11,392

20º. María Espín - 6,968

SANDRA YGUERAVIDE

132.625 PTS

JUANA CAMILION

119.151 PTS

GRACIA ALONSO

117.930 PTS

VEGA GIMENO

86.982 PTS

CECI MUHATE

56.162 PTS

#3X3OQT

Concentration

THE WAIT SPAIN 3X3

The Spanish 3x3 men’s team is waiting to qualify for the preOlympics. They will secure a spot if any European team qualifies earlier for the Games.

ANA JUNYER HEAD COACH 3x3 FEB

INTERVIEW WITH THE WOMAN BUILDING SUCCESS IN THE WOMEN’S NATIONAL TEAM.

Q: More than a decade leading the 3x3 women’s national team. Do you remember how it all started?

A: It was for the first U18 World Championship in 2011 - with rules quite different from today’s - and we took charge of the teams, Manuel Aller with the boys and me with the girls. The players were: Yurena Diaz, Astou Ndour, Marta Montoliu, and Sara Rodriguez, and we won the Gold medal. The first thing was trying to figure out which players could adapt to 3x3 without knowing exactly what we were going to face

Q: Before that moment and being a coach, 140 times an international player with the Spanish National Team. Would you have been a good 3x3 player?

A: I think in my prime, I would have held my own

in this format (laughs), but it’s hard to say for sure. Until you play, you don’t know for certain.

Q: During these years as a coach, many joys in all categories. How are those successes built?

A: Well, the truth is that we have been growing with the format itself, initially imagining which players could adapt to it. Then, with the experience of the needs that 3x3 requires, and, of course, the commitment of the players who have been involved in the development of 3x3. Currently, the number of players getting involved in 3x3 competitions in the summer continues to grow. The work of the professionals who have accompanied me in this process is also important, both in taking care of the players and in the technical aspects.

J. Alberto Martín FEB

Q: Of all the achievements, which moment do you cherish the most?

A: It’s challenging to choose among so many moments; each one has a special significance due to the evolution during the competition and the intensity of the few days we spent together. One magical moment was winning the European Cup with the Women’s National Team in France in 2021. In the youth categories, I highlight the U18 World Cup final against the USA in Debrecen in 2021.

I also have a special memory of the bronzes in the U18 World Cups, where within less than an hour, we were able to regroup and play for the bronze after tough defeats in the semis: the first U18

I think that in my good times, I would have defended myself in this game.

European Cup in Tbilisi (Georgia) and the first U17 European Cup in Lisbon. And, of course, it all began in the first U18 World Championship in Rimini (Italy), as the initial stop on this journey. Although each championship has had something unique compared to the others, and therefore, each of them, with their respective players and coaching staff, has been unique and unrepeatable.

I can’t mention them all, but in the early days, I remember a game against the United States in the World Cup in China that was absolutely crazy, the first medal in the Netherlands for the way it was achieved, and I recall the Qualifiers, which are always an emotional roller coaster

Q: What is the day-to-day life like for a 3x3 national team coach in Spain?

A: Another aspect that has changed significantly over the years. It has changed a lot. It started with two or three specific competitions in the calendar. Now, everything has increased exponentially, and there is activity from May to September (last summer we returned from the last one on September 25).

Concentration of the senior women’s national team 2023

In addition, there is a preliminary work to prepare for the championships and have everything ready on the first day of concentration. There is another important part, which is the selection of players in each team and each Women’s Series. It has more complications due to the constraints of FIBA rules regarding the ranking... All this to finalize six pla yers ‘without the option of changes’ two weeks befo re the championship. These rules greatly influence.

The number of competitions is increasing, and the volume of players moving in the summer in different selections is growing year by year. And of course, the sports aspect, preparing for activities and during the championships.

Q: We know that you have spent many hours of your life looking for players who fit into the 3x3 team. Of which ‘discovery’ for 3x3 are you most proud?

A: I try to do the best job possible, and it is true that in a few cases, my commitment to 3x3 was a surpri se for them. But once we reached that point, they

“

I believe that we have a good level of competitiveness. We are increasing the periods of 3x3 activity in the selections, and at the same time, we are expanding the age groups.

are the ones who have developed their best abilities and commitment to becoming true 3x3 players. It is undoubtedly a team effort

Q: I’ll leave you with the name of a player you never managed to convince to play 3x3 or someone you would like to see do it in the future

A: I stick with those who have been part of it. And speaking of the future, now that 3x3 is known, it will be the players’ choice to get involved in 3x3.

Q: Give us an assessment of women’s 3x3 basketball in Spain. Compared to other nearby countries, are we better, worse, or equal?

A: I believe we have a good level of competitiveness. We are increasing the periods of 3x3 activity in the national teams and, at the same time, expanding the age groups in which we compete internationally. The recently created Spanish U17 Club Championships and the U13 and U15 Regional Team Championships are efforts involving many people that will be important for the future. The results obtained so far make us a team to consider when we compete, although we are still in the development process in the U23 and U21 categories.

In relation to nearby countries, we have to differentiate France from the others. They have a macrostructure in 3x3, both in competitions, tournaments, and national team activities, also due to the Paris Olympic Games. But no country can compare to France. Among the rest of the countries in our vicinity, perhaps those with less powerful senior 5x5

national teams have paid special attention to the development and work of 3x3.

Q: Would it be possible in Spain to have, in the short to medium term, high-level players focused on 3x3 similar to the French model? Or is it a utopia?

A: This is the path that will have to be traveled. What I don’t dare to do is set deadlines because the crucial factor here is finding the funding to carry it out. There are more and more players who enjoy 3x3, and perhaps, if they saw options to dedicate themselves exclusively to 3x3, they would, but it requires the necessary resources. France has used the Olympics to implement this model, and we’ll have to see how it continues.

Q: Will Juana Camilion be the successor to Sandra Ygueravide as the queen of Spanish 3x3 in the medium term?”

A: Uff!! Each player is marking her own path, Sandra is and continues to be an important player

in 3x3, she knows what she wants and works for it. It’s also true that she has had teammates who have complemented each other to create competitive teams (Vega, Aitana, Paula, Nuria, Marta, Gracia, Ceci, Helena, and Juana). In the case of Juana, she has started her journey, was well accompanied, making the team better, and at the same time, her teammates helped her stand out in her first championship. Now, the most challenging part is ahead, working to continue growing and maintaining the competitive level, considering that she is already known, and the element of surprise won’t be on her side.

Q: What is the roadmap for the various selections in 2024?

A: We have a year with a lot of activity. The Senior Women’s team has secured a spot in Pre-Olympic 3, with the possibility of also participating in Pre-Olympic 2. The goal is undoubtedly to qualify for the Games, knowing the difficulty it entails and having little preparation.

Left photo, first success with the bronze medal in the women’s European Games in Baku 2015. Right photo, latest success with the silver medal at the European Championship in Israel 2023

Additionally, we have the Pre-European Championship where we have historically been successful, but it is a more challenging competition than it may seem. The objective there is to be at the European Championship and defend last year’s silver.

For the U23 and U21 categories, the goal is to qualify for the U23 World Cup, and to achieve this, good results in the Nations League are crucial, as it now serves as the qualifying event for the World Cup. In the U18 category, the aim is always to be among the top eight teams globally and compete for medals.

Similar to the U17 category, which needs to qualify first for the European Championship, and once there, the challenge will be to contend for a podium finish.

Q: Is there a plan to address the overlap between the pre-Olympics and the playoffs of the Women’s League?

A: The dates set by FIBA are what they are. It’s not for me to answer that question, but I know that the Federation is concerned about this situation.

Q: This sport owes us one after leaving us with a bitter taste in the pre-Olympics in Japan. Can we dream of being in Paris 2024?

A: Of course, dreaming and having hope of achieving qualification is the goal we all desire, but at the same time, understanding the difficulties and complexity in reaching it is also part of reality.

#21POINTS

1. fAvorIte tv SerIeS - DArk

2. A SoNg you coulD lISteN to oN looP - love the wAy you lIe (emINeN AND rIhANA)

3. A book you’re eAger to reAD - the Subtle Art of Not gIvINg A f*

4. oN whAtSAPP, tyPe or SeND voIce meSSAgeS? - If I cAN, voIce meSSAgeS. but I uSuAlly wrIte

5. A trIP you hAve PeNDINg - ArgeNtINA to vISIt fAmIly

6. A SPort you wereN’t borN for - golf

7. woulD you go further oN o.t. or A mASterchef? - NeIther, but If I hAD to chooSe oNe, mASterchef (lAughS)... I’m Not gooD At both, but you cAN leArN to cook, Not to SINg.

8. If you coulD oNly eAt oNe thINg for the reSt of your lIfe, whAt woulD you chooSe? - eScAloPe wIth PotAtoeS (No mAtter how).

9. fAvorIte Subject IN School - mAthemAtIcS

10. SocIAl meDIA PlAtform thAt SteAlS more of your tIme - tIktok

11. SPortS StAr you ADmIre - jImmy butler

12. If you wereN’t A bASketbAll PlAyer, you woulD be... - A fIgure SkAter (I DID It wheN I wAS A chIlD)

OFF THE

JUANA CAMILION

Nº2 IN SPAIN 3X3 RANKING

SILVER EUROPEAN 3X3 2023

«At 60, I see myself playing basketball with my grandchildren»

13. frIDAy NIght PlANS off-SeASoN - If It’S Summer, the beAch; If Not, DINNer wIth frIeNDS AND whAtever hAPPeNS.

14. Do you hAve ANy quIrkS? - IN my PAreNtS’ cAr, SINce I wAS lIttle, I AlwAyS SIt IN the bAck oN the DrIver’S SIDe, AND my SISter oN the other SIDe. we StIll Do It the SAme wAy.

15. homework you hAte the moSt - cleANINg wINDowS

16. extrAcurrIculAr goAl for 2024 - get my DrIver’S lIceNSe

17. how Do you See yourSelf At 60? - PlAyINg bASketbAll wIth my grANDchIlDreN

18. A PlAce you woulD go bAck to A thouSAND tImeS - floreNce, ItAly

19. lIttle-kNowN tAleNt of yourS - DoINg crAftS, I’m A bIt of A PerfectIoNISt

20. fAvorIte momeNt of the DAy - AfterNooN SNAck

21. whIch PlAyer from your teAm woulD you tAke to A PArty? - bego AND PAulA SArAvIA

THE COURT

LA JAULA LIGA3X3INDOOR

Last February, the top eight teams from the Spanish 3x3 Indoor League competed in the 3x3 Cup as part of the scheduled activities in the ACB 2024 Cup held in Malaga.

The Movistar Cage, located in the Plaza de la Marina in Malaga, was the incredible setting for the debut of the 3x3 Cup. A vibrant atmosphere, music, and contests accompanied the tournament. BBall Center became the first champion of the 3x3 Cup. The leader of the Indoor competition progressively improved throughout the tournament and fulfilled the expectations that labeled them as favorites, given the excellent season they are having. J&J Museros finished second and solidified their status as the breakthrough team in Spanish 3x3 this year.

Do you know the 3x3 Indoor Reign League?

It is the first 3x3 competition at the national level played in Spain outside the summer season. Since last September, it has been hosting its second edition with 9 venues spread across the country and 1 beyond our borders, Andorra. This year, it also includes a women’s category in three of the stops.

IRENE

IRENE BLANCO

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IRENE BLANCO

J. PATÓN ROLDÁN

circuito colegial 3x3 2024

After the success achieved in last year’s first edition, the Collegiate 3x3 Circuit is celebrated again, the most important 3x3 basketball competition in Spain at the school level, led by Onil3x3 and the Collegiate Basketball Foundation.

The 2024 edition will have two preliminary phases in Madrid, at the Veritas Institute and Santa María del Pilar, for participants in the U15 and U17 categories. In addition, the competition expands to other regions of Spain, with a venue in Onil-Alicante, at the Olympic training facilities of Onil3x3. Dates for Barcelona, Valencia, Zaragoza, Bilbao, and possibly other venues in future editions will also be announced soon. The winners of each category from all venues will compete in the grand final event at the national level, which will take place in

Madrid at the end of May or the beginning of June, where the champions of Spain of the Collegiate 3x3 Circuit will be crowned.

The competition format will be similar to last year, providing a professional 3x3 basketball experience to participants, following the structure of the FIBA3X3 World Tour. The Collegiate 3x3 Circuit events are full of music, entertainment, competition, contests, and much more, not forgetting the great collegiate feeling. This modality is exciting and dynamic, ensuring fun and conveying educational values that greatly contribute to the promotion of 3x3 basketball in our country. Registrations are already open and can be found on our website.

Last year, we had a first edition with a fantastic reception, and at Onil3x3, we want to expand even more in 2024 by providing the opportunity to play in the competition to as many boys and girls in Spain as possible. That’s why we have launched to organize venues in many more cities, which will also grow in number in the coming years. Being able to carry out the Collegiate 3x3 Circuit in various cities excites us, and we are eager to start.

Another thing that motivates us a lot in this edition is being able to host one of the venues at our home, the Onil3x3 Arena, where we have the Olympic court of our professional team, along with another

court artistically intervened, and in a natural environment that will make it a top-notch event.

3x3 basketball is trendy, and we know that many boys and girls are eager to compete. What better way to do it than by representing their schools, just like they do in traditional basketball in a tournament with such tradition as the Copa Colegial. Therefore, we are confident that there will be cities where the reception will be extraordinary, and we are ready!

IRENE BLANCO

We talked with Juanma Robles, director of the 3x3 Academy of Valencia Basket and two of his students.

THE ACADEMY

Juanma Robles

«Valencia Basket 3x3 Academy is born to contribute to the internal growth of our project. Our commitment is to instill this modality not only in senior teams but also in the training stages, bringing this format closer to boys and girls. We believe that the best foundation for 3x3, for its continuity and future growth, is to work from the present. Only in this way can we have a wide range of players in a few years.

We have four training sessions per week, each lasting 75 minutes. With the youngest, from U11 to U13, we focus on individual technique adapted to 3x3, and with cadets, juniors, and seniors, we work on both 3x3 technique and tactics. We tailor all sessions so that individual technique training lasts 30-40 minutes, and the last 35 minutes are dedicated to playing matches.

The global growth of 3x3 requires establishing foundations in the youngest players; they are the future.»

PHOTOS

Leyre (12 years)

«I discovered the academy through my parents’ social media, and I was already a player at La Alquería/Valencia Basket.

My favorite rule is that you can’t get expelled for fouls (laughs). The speed of the game and the fact that you have to shoot much more are what I like most about 3x3.

The most challenging part of playing 3x3 is that there are only 12 seconds of possession, and plays have to be very short.»

Juan (17 years)

«What surprised me the most about 3x3 is that a lot of contact is allowed. I remember during a training session, we were playing games, and Juanma came up to me and said, ‘You’re not scoring anymore.’ He started pushing me out of bounds, and I didn’t touch the ball for the rest of the practice.

Both now and in the past, for many years, Valencia, and now the academy, provide me with their philosophy of a culture of effort and values to keep growing as a player.

The intensity and speed of the game, the development of individual technique, and the enjoyment are three reasons why I would encourage everyone to get to know this sport.

The rules I like the most in 3x3 are the shot clock and the time limit of the game (10 minutes or 21 points). Both encourage speed and tactical decisions, adding excitement to each of the games.

My role model, both in 3x3 and 5x5, is Clara Ché. My mother and I have been friends with Clara for a long time; she is a role model both on and off the field, very hardworking and a good person.»

3X3 WHEELCHAIR

Toledo hosted the II Spanish BSR School Age Championship of Autonomous Communities on February 10 and 11. An event that brought together 11 teams from 6 regions of Spain.

IRENE BLANCO

The rules

«Currently, as it is a training Championship, we have modified some rules such as the possession rule, which changes from 12 to 14 seconds, and the clock starts when the player crosses the three-point line. Given the age of the players and their ongoing development, many of them may not have the strength to attack quickly after receiving the ball.»

Inclusion

«For all the boys and girls, this is the most anticipated event of the year. It’s a Championship where smiles and excitement are constantly generated.

Seeing them enjoy and compete at the highest level makes us proud of the good work being done by

clubs and federations around the 3x3 specialty.»

At present

«We are in a very positive moment where the Spanish Federation for People with Physical Disabilities (FEDDF) is committed to this modality. We have built a working structure for the Spanish national team with a foundation of players who will become experts in 3x3 for International Championships. Very soon, we will have the Spanish Championship for seniors with the best teams in Spain participating in this modality.»

Marcos del Olmo - National Director BSR 3X3 Area

Cataluña 1 won the Championship, defending the title they secured last year, also at the Rafael del Pino Pavilion in Toledo. Cataluña 1 triumphed 7-12 in the final against Basque Country 2. The third spot went to the Community of Madrid 2, and fourth to Region of Murcia 2. The tournament featured over 50 top-level athletes, mostly aged between 11 and 19, competing in eleven teams from six Autonomous Communities: Madrid, Murcia, Basque Country, Cataluña, Melilla, and Navarra, making their debut in the competition.

5 TIPS TO CAPTURE

THE BEST IMAGES

IRENE

coNfIgure your cAmerA

To achieve sharp images and freeze the action, at the speed at which players and the ball move, you will need to shoot at a fast shutter speed (1/1000 min.). This will obligatorily force us to compensate by adjusting the aperture and, depending on the lighting, also the ISO.

Seek DIffereNt PerSPectIveS

Don’t always stay in the same place! Play with angles and shoot from different perspectives. For instance, sit or lie on the ground to find a low angle and add more depth to your images.

If you set your camera to take a single shot when you press the shutter, you risk arriving too early or too late for the key moment. It’s better to activate burst mode or continuous shooting, ensuring you capture it!

While capturing gameplay actions is highly appealing, try to seek other moments: players’ reactions, looks exchanged between them, and also focus on other subjects such as referees or spectators. As for coaches, well, as we already know... in 3x3, they’re in the stands!

It’s always interesting to understand the workings of the sport you’re going to photograph. This way, you can anticipate what will happen, know where to direct your lens, position yourself, and have an idea of what to expect to capture.

DoN’t let the momeNt eScAPe you

DoN’t focuS oNly oN the PlAyS

kNow the SPort

SANTS

Speaking of the Sants court in Barcelona means talking about pure Streetball. We spoke with Nelson, one of the founders of the SBS association. The main intention was to ensure the improvement of the hoops, the floor, lighting... a tedious struggle and an exhausting experience that, to this day, forms the basis of what everyone knows. Ballers from many different places have passed through here, coexisting and playing, including Ricky Rubio, Chris Paul, KD, Pierre Oriola, Thomas Heurtel...

In the park, we have many projects like “Entrena Al Parc -EAP-” for young people between approximately 14 and 21 years old. The idea is to promote integration, allowing young people to have an accessible (free) activity that is away from the typical guidelines of federated basketball. Play for fun, without the pressure of results.

On Wednesdays from 7:30 PM to 8:30 PM, the ‘Almas Libres’ Women’s Group meets, providing an opportunity for women who want to reconnect with the ball and the basket. The HEEP tournament was born to bring visibility to the community and denounce the poor condition of the facilities. Today, it is what identifies us as a Streetball community, where urban culture flows, creating an atmosphere without additives or sweeteners—of the neighborhood, for the neighborhood. The tournament has its own identity, taking place in a single day of competition and featuring dance exhibitions, freestyle, music, barbershops, three-pointers, Dunkers, and a lot of flow...

«Do it in the park»

«Playing at the Heep, when you’re on the court, is undoubtedly one of the best sensations I’ve had as a player in years. You feel important, a tremendous boost of energy, and a confidence like never before. And what makes you feel this way is undoubtedly the atmosphere.”

“The first time I went to the Heep was in 2021, thanks to Nelson, who explained the 3x3 rules to me and promised that I wouldn’t regret it if I went, and he was absolutely right»

«Playing on the court brings a sense of freedom, freedom of expression within the court, and mental liberation. It’s a way to disconnect from the routine and enjoy playing basketball without the commitments associated with playing in a club, coach, or pressure to achieve a specific goal.»

«The first time I went to play in Sants, I was about 12-13 years old. Now I’m 23, and seeing how Streetball Sants has evolved all these years is simply incredible.”

“It’s very satisfying to witness the mix of cultures, skill levels, and lifestyles you encounter when you go to the park.”

“My best memory: the game winner at HEEP 2022. It was very special for me because I had never seen the park so crowded.»

Paula “Pulpo Sneakers”

Manal Mallouk

David Mejia

2015

FEB/

Between June 23 and 26, 2015, the 3x3 tournament took place in Baku, Azerbaijan, as part of the European Games held that year. This marked the first significant international senior medals for Spanish 3x3 basketball. The men’s team, composed of Juan Vasco, Sergio de la Fuente, Álex Llorca, and Nacho Martín, under the guidance of Jaume Comas, secured the silver medal. The women’s team, consisting of Vega Gimeno, Esther Montenegro, María Aranzazu, and Inma Zanoguera, coached by Ana Junyer, earned the bronze. We spoke with some of the protagonists, and this is what they remember from the success:

«It was one of the best experiences I’ve had with the Spanish 3x3 national team. We had a fantastic team, with an incredible coach, but we faced very strong teams like Serbia, Slovenia, or Russia. We had a spectacular tournament, defeating Serbia’s Dusan, Majstorovic, Zdero, Marko Savic in the semifinals and giving Russia a tough fight in the final until the last moment. It didn’t happen, but since they hung

the silver medal around my neck, I’ve valued it a lot because I know how hard it is to achieve a medal.

To this day, sometimes I open the box where I have it stored just to see it again.»

Álex Llorca

that on the last day, I could barely walk due to the cramps in my legs. Playing outdoors was tough, with the heat, the fast pace, and the number of games—something I’ve grown accustomed to now, but as a first experience, it was super demanding. We took home the bronze medal, something extremely challenging for the new group we were, but we proved that the Spanish competitive spirit is in our DNA, whether in 3x3 or 5x5.»

Vega Gimeno Nacho Martín

S. de la Fuente

«It was my first experience with 3x3, and I could say one of the most special ones. In Baku, I completely fell in love with this discipline. It was just like the Olympics, Olympic Village, interaction with other sports—a truly amazing experience. I remember «It was amazing; we couldn’t believe we were playing in such an event. It was a tumultuous championship—I had back problems, Juan Vasco got his nose broken in one of the first games and later had an issue with his ankle. However, we managed to secure the silver, losing to Russia, which honestly «It was fantastic. First, it was a unique experience, as it always is to go with the Spanish national team. But then, everything around it was remarkable. It

was performing at a higher level than us, but still finishing ahead of teams like Serbia. They were the first medals in history for 3x3.»

was like an Olympic village, with incredible facilities. We shared an apartment with the fencing team, and we almost always traveled by bus with the beach soccer team. We had a great time; we even had Juan Vasco as an improvised DJ, and besides, the results were on our side. It turned into an unforgettable experience.»

Some images sent by the protagonists of the medals from Baku 2015.

javier meras and his historic dream team.

MY DREAM TEAM

«Dusan Bulut, simply the best in history.»

«Dejan Mjastorovic, the player with the most titles in 3x3 history, never hides and always decides. A very relentless player.»

«Strahinja Stojacic, started weak in shooting, but few players had his explosiveness and quality to penetrate as easily

as him. He has become a great shooter, and his fearless character makes him unstoppable.»

«Karlis Lasmanis, an all-around player. Contributes in everything, has a winning character like the Serbians (something few possess), and is an Olympic champion. Having him on a team makes it formidable.»

#Andorra

by Jordi Fernández

A BRIEF OVERVIEW OF OUR COUNTRY’S 3X3 HISTORY

Our history begins in the year 2011. Yvan Mainini, President of FIBA, former President of FIBA Europe and the French Basketball Federation, visits us. In the press conference after our meeting, he says, ‘The future of small countries, 3x3.’ We were surprised because we had never heard of 3x3, but his recommendation did not go unnoticed.

In 2012, we participated in our first competition at the FIBA 3x3 U18 Women’s World Championship in Alcobendas, Spain. In 2013, our U18 men’s and women’s teams participated in the FIBA 3x3 U18 World Championship in Jakarta, Indonesia.

In 2014, our senior men’s team participated in the qualifying round of the FIBA 3x3 European Cham-

pionship in Amsterdam, Netherlands, securing a spot in the FIBA 3x3 European Championship in Bucharest, Romania, and also in the 2015 European Games (Olympism) in Baku, Azerbaijan. That same year, the U18 men’s and women’s teams participated in the Youth Olympic Games in Nanjing, China.

In July 2015, the Andorran Basketball Federation was ranked 3rd in senior men and 1st in senior women, U18 men, and U18 women in the FIBA 3x3 world ranking. An unprecedented success in any team sport worldwide.

From 2012 to today, we have participated in all kinds of European, world, and Olympic competitions, except for the Olympics, and have organized

FAB

FIRST PARTICIPATIONS

2012

FIBA 3X3 World Championship U18 Women – Alcobendas (Spain)

2013

FIBA 3X3 World Championship U18 Men – Jakarta (Indonesia)

FIBA 3X3 World Championship U18 Women – Jakarta (Indonesia)

LAST PARTICIPATIONS

2021

FIBA 3X3 Europe Cup Qualifier Men – Tel Aviv (Israel)

2022

FIBA 3X3 Europe Cup Qualifier Men – Larnaca (Cyprus)

FIBA 3X3 Europe Cup Qualifier Women – Larnaca (Cyprus)

2023

3X3 Games of Small Countries Men – Malta (Malta)

3X3 Games of Small Countries Women – Malta (Malta)

FIBA 3X3 Europe Cup Qualifier Men – Larnaca (Cyprus)

FIBA 3X3 Europe Cup Qualifier Women – Larnaca (Cyprs)

national and international tournaments at the European level.

In all the competitions we have participated in, it has been based on ranking, except for the qualifiers. At the global and Olympic level, this means being among the top 10 in the European ranking.

We have faced the USA, Russia, Serbia, Brazil, Latvia, France, Spain, Lithuania, Germany, Argentina, China, Turkey, etc. All countries with more basketball and much larger populations than us, and we have always fought and almost never disappointed with the results.

On the left, the first participation of the Andorran national team in competition, and on the right, the last medals won in Malta.

#TheDunker

«The best dunker in the world at the moment and historically is Jordan Kilganon.»

Héctor ‘Carry’ Carrillo Escribano made his debut in the FIBA 3x3 World Tour dunk contest in 2023.

At 22 years old and standing at 177cm tall, the Alicante native aims to carve a place among the world’s best dunkers.

CARRY DUNK

• Gold FIBA3X3 Praga Dunk contest 2023

• Bronze FIBA3X3 Debrecen Dunk contest 2023

• Gold BALLIN.EU Barcelona Dunk contest 2023

He claims that the most difficult dunk he has achieved in competition is:

«The double up, jumping over 4 people in the Street Dunk show» (Pachanga del año I, 2022. Alicante)

Will he surpass it in 2024?

FIBA3x3

Revista Digital y Website de 3x3

«El

3X3 da alas al talento»

Jaime Alonso