France hope home comforts get them back on track at FIBA 3x3 Women's Series Eaubonne Stop

EAUBONNE (France) - Crelan FIBA 3x3 World Cup 2022 champs France are hoping to turn around their form in front of home fans at the FIBA 3x3 Women's Series Eaubonne Stop on August 26-27, 2022. 

With the Constanta Final inching closer, the all-important second last stop will be hard fought in a tough field of 12. 

The Favorites

Since France won the Ulaanbaatar Stop shortly after becoming the darlings of the world in Antwerp, they've gone slightly off the boil with four winless Stops and exiting in the quarters in Quebec, which was their worst result of the season. 

But the No.3 seed should enjoy being back at home with superstar Laetitia Guapo set to get plenty of help from her Crelan FIBA 3x3 World Cup 2022 winning teammate Hortense Limouzin with the speedster returning to the lineup. 

 

If France want to go all the way then they will likely have to meet rival Canada at some stage with the teams having memorably met at the decider of the World Cup. 

No.1 seed Canada have been tough to beat on the Women's Series with titles at Edmonton and Bucharest, but could not overcome the absences of the brilliant Plouffe sisters to fall at the semi-finals in Quebec.

Canada receive a huge boost with superstar Michelle Plouffe returning and she's been one of the very best players in the Women's Series highlighted by being currently ranked third in player value (110.2). 

No.2 Spain will also be among the contenders and determined to bounce back after being knocked out in the pool stage in Quebec. Their chances of a swift improvement look good with the return of Sandra Ygueravide who is the heart and soul of Spain and with her back in charge they should be right in the mix. 

Rounding out the contenders is No.4 seed China, who are desperate to move up the standings and book a spot to Constanta.

Remember that only the top 8 in the season standings (or rather the top 7 teams and the Romanian hosts) qualify for the Final. In other words, China (currently ranked 10th), Ulaanbaatar Amazons (14th), Czech Republic (15th) and Dusseldorf Zoos (16th) all need a deeeeeeeeeeeeeep run to reach the Top 7.

The Crelan FIBA 3x3 World Cup 2022 bronze medalists China are in-form after a memorable Women's Series victory in Sukhbaatar where towering 6ft. 3in. (1.90m) Mingling Chen was named MVP. 

Insanely talented 22-year-old Chen looms as China's latest superstar and her stock will rise faster than Tesla shares if she can lead her country to back-to-back titles. 

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by FIBA3x3W (@fiba3x3w)

 

The Field

Is it time for Mongolian teams to step up? These pro ballers haven't quite broken through this season although there have been glimpses along the way. 

Their best hope might be No.5 seed Ulaanbaatar Amazons (MGL), who  have reached a trio of quarters this season. But this might be their moment of creating history for 3x3 mad Mongolia with Bolor-Erdene Baatar and Canadian Rashida Timbillia dominating the paint in Sukhbaatar. 

 

Dark horses just might be Czech Republic and Dusseldorf ZOOS (GER), who have both made quarters previously this season, while get ready to be amazed by the New Gen of Netherlands U24 and France U24 teams. 

Pools

Pool A: Canada, France U24, Mongolia 
Pool B: Spain, Netherlands U24, Dusseldorf ZOOS (GER)
Pool C: France, Czech Republic, Portugal 
Pool D: China, Ulaanbaatar Amazons (MGL), Turkey 

How to watch

The two-day extravaganza is on August 26-27 and you can follow it live on the FIBA 3x3 YouTube and Facebook pages.

FIBA