Australia sweeps FIBA 3x3 Asia Cup

Australia has secured both the men’s and women’s title at the 2024 FIBA 3x3 Asia Cup overnight, with men’s team taking its fourth crown in five attempts.

The Gangurrus were forced to play their way into the pools, and qualifying wins over Tahiti, Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan saw them take their place in a group alongside Japan and the Philippines.

A 21-15 win over China in the quarterfinals saw Australia take on Mongolia in what was a rematch of the 2023 final, and 11 points from Illawarra Hawk Todd Blanchfield meant Australia eased to a 21-11 win.

Australia then cruised to a 21-7 win over fellow finalists Iran to take the title. Blanchfield scored seven points in the final, while fellow Hawk William Hickey added five points.

Centre of Excellence's James O’Donnell and former Cairns Taipan Josh Davey added five and four points in the win respectively.

Australia won three straight titles in 2018, 2019 and 2022 before the winning streak was broken by Mongolia last year.

Blanchfield also finished as the tournament’s top scorer with 47 points in five games, and was named as the MVP.

The women took out their second consecutive 3x3 Asia Cup crown with an 18-13 win over New Zealand, which has marked the second year in a row Australia’s women have defeated its trans-Tasman neighbours in the final.

The eventual finalists met in their opening game of the tournament, which Australia won 22-9, and the final marked the only time in the tournament Australia conceded double-digit points to any opposition across the campaign.

Former WNBL MVP Anneli Maley top scored for Australia with eight points in the final, while Marena Whittle, Alex Wilson and Lauren Mansfield scored four, four and two respectively.

Maley’s final performance saw her end the tournament as the top scorer with 31 points, while Whittle added 30 points across the campaign.