The reigning World Tour champs Riga (LAT) are peaking at the right time. Just one week after Abu Dhabi, they won their second consecutive FIBA 3×3 World Tour Masters in Mexico City on November 6-7, 2021.
The four Tokyo 2020 Olympic gold medalists won the 8th Masters of their career after defeating San Juan PCI Group (PUR) in the final (21-15), well before the 10-minute limit in what was the 5th fastest game of the entire World Tour season.
The number two 3×3 player in the world Nauris Miezis scored his team’s first 6 points and had a game-high 8 points in the final. He was the joint top scorer of the Masters, tied with his teammate Karlis Lasmanis, who ranked first in player value and was named MVP of the event.
For his return to the World Tour, Luis ‘Pela Coco’ Hernandez had a convincing showing in Mexico. The muscular San Juan star had a 6-point, 9-rebound double-five in the final and finished third overall in player value (after Lasmanis and Miezis) on the entire event.
Both teams had already qualified to the FIBA 3×3 World Tour Jeddah Final before the event. Gagarin (RUS) and Lausanne Sport (SUI) finished 3rd and 5th in Mexico respectively to stamp the last two tickets.
In total, twelve teams will compete in the final, which will take place on December 17-18: Riga (LAT), Ub (SRB), Liman (SRB), Amsterdam Talent&Pro (NED), Antwerp (BEL), San Juan PCI Group (PUR), Jeddah (KSA), Sakiai Gulbele (LTU), Gagarin (RUS), Princeton (USA), Graz (AUT) and Lausanne Sport (SUI).
In the individual contests, Brandon Ruffin won the dunk contest while Puerto Rican sharpshooter TJ Fernandez dominated the Wilson shoot-out contest.
All the health and safety measures requested by local and national authorities and the Guidelines for the Return to Basketball, developed by the FIBA Medical Advisory Group (MAG), which were successfully introduced last season, were implemented once again.
MEXICO CITY MASTERS STANDINGS
1. Riga (LAT)
2. San Juan PCI Group (PUR)
3. Gagarin (RUS)
4. Jeddah (KSA)
5. Lausanne Sport (SUI)
6. Sakiai Gulbele (LTU)
7. Liman (SRB)
8. Runa (RUS)
9. Ulaanbaatar MMC Energy (MGL)
10. Utrecht (NED)
11. Omaha 3Ball (USA)
12. Mexico City (MEX)
13. Acapulco (MEX)
14. Mayaguez (PUR)
15. Omaha South 3Ball (USA)
16. Rio Preto (BRA)
