Germany get victory number one on FIBA 3x3 Women’s Series in Constanta

CONSTANTA (Romania) – Germany won the FIBA 3x3 Women’s Series Constanta Stop after narrowly edging out the Netherlands (13-12) in the final in Constanta, Romania on August 14-15, 2021.

It was Germany’s first-ever event title on the Women’s Series on just their third participation after finishing 7th in Poitiers and 3rd in Klaipeda earlier this year.

Germany provided lockdown defense all weekend, keeping the opposing teams to just 11 points per game and showing nerves of steel in clutch time. They won their last three games of the tournament by a combined four points (!), an overtime win against the season leaders Spain (16-14), followed by two one-point wins against the United States (15-14) in the semi-finals and versus the Netherlands (13-12) in the final.

The towering Sonja Greinacher (6ft 3in, 1.90m) was key for Germany in the final with a game-high 8 points and a double-five (add 5 rebounds). The 29-year-old was named MVP after topping all players in scoring, player value and rebounds.

The Netherlands tied their best-ever performance on the Women’s Series with their second place on the shores of the Black Sea. Their defense was suffocating (less than 10 points conceded per game on average and number one in blocked shots) and were the only team to beat Canada in Constanta (in an amazing come-back win in the semi-finals). The two former Youth Olympic Games silver medalists (in 2014) Esther Fokke (who was 1 rebound shy of a triple-five in the final) and Janis Ndiba led the way for the Orange Lions.

The two North American women’s 3x3 superpowers Canada and USA finished third and fourth respectively.

Though they finished just seventh in Romania, Spain already mathematically clinched their ticket to the final, which will also take place in Romania, this time in Bucharest on September 18-19. The Romanian hosts are the only other team to be guaranteed to make the final at this stage.

The other six participants will be officially confirmed at the end of the last stop of the season, which will be held in Montreal, Canada on September 3-4.

Constanta Stop Final Standings
1. Germany
2. Netherlands
3. Canada
4. USA
5. Slovakia
6. Poland
7. Spain
8. Hungary
9. Russia U25
10. Russia
11. Austria
12. Romania

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Exciting, urban and innovative, 3x3 is inspired by several forms of streetball played worldwide and is considered the world’s number one urban team sport. Steered by FIBA, games see two teams of three players face off on a basketball half-court.

It was played successfully for the first time in international competition at the 2010 Youth Olympic Games in Singapore and since then has benefited from the launch of a yearly city-based FIBA 3x3 World Tour and national-team FIBA 3x3 World & Continental Cups.

3x3 made its Olympic debut on July 24, 2021 at the Tokyo Games.

Wilson is the Global Ball and Apparel Partner and Tissot the Official Timekeeper of FIBA 3x3.

FIBA 3x3 events are played on Enlio floors with Wilson balls, Schelde backstops, and the Magic Sky canopy system.

For further information about 3x3, visit fiba3x3.basketball, FIBA 3x3 accounts on Facebook, Instagram, Sina Weibo, Tencent, TikTok, Twitter, Youku , YouTube and Twitch or contact 3x3@fiba.basketball.