Mixed Fortunes for 3x3 Aussies

Friday, June 2, 2023

It was a promising start for Australia’s 3x3 teams at the World Cup on Thursday morning.

Photo: fiba3x3.com

It was a promising start for Australia’s 3x3 teams at the World Cup on Thursday morning, Australian time, with two wins for the women, and two close-fought losses for the men.

The 19th-seeded Gangurrus’ women’s team sits top of Pool B after two games, thanks to a 22-11 win over Japan, before backing up with a seven-point victory against Poland.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">? 2-2 for ?? Australia today<a href="https://twitter.com/BasketballAus?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@BasketballAus</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/3x3WC?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#3x3WC</a> <a href="https://t.co/Is7y5WfouP">pic.twitter.com/Is7y5WfouP</a></p>— FIBA3x3 (@FIBA3x3) <a href="https://twitter.com/FIBA3x3/status/1663987561088335875?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 31, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Marena Whittle and Alex Wilson were the stars in game one with ten and nine points respectively, to go with five rebounds apiece.

Anneli Maley stepped things up in game two, scoring seven points to go with four rebounds.

Next up, the Australians take on Egypt and Germany on Saturday morning, with tip off at 2.40am and 4.40am AEST.

The men’s team almost caused a huge upset against the second-seeded USA, falling just three points short in their first fixture.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Hogwarts legacy level dime! ? <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/3x3WC?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#3x3WC</a> <a href="https://t.co/cDWx9nPhdx">pic.twitter.com/cDWx9nPhdx</a></p>— FIBA3x3 (@FIBA3x3) <a href="https://twitter.com/FIBA3x3/status/1663996414438027264?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 31, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Boasting a distinct NBL flavour, including 200-gamer Lucas Walker (eight points, three rebounds), Daniel Johnson (seven points, two rebounds), Mitch McCarron and 3x3 star Andrew Steel, the Aussie fell 21-18 in game one.

Johnson (nine points, two rebounds) was the star in game two, in a 17-15 loss at the hands of Austria.

The Australians take on Slovenia (1.10am AEST) and Latvia (3.45am EST) on Saturday morning.

Women
Australia def Japan 22-11
Australia def Poland 21-14

Men
USA def Australia 21-18
Austria def Australia 17-15