China out for redemption while USA look strong heading into FIBA 3x3 Women's Series Melilla Stop 2023
MELILLA (Spain) - After a close elimination in Katowice, China will be looking to add another win to their impressive tally while USA are set on going back-to-back at the FIBA 3x3 Women’s Series Melilla Stop 2023 on August 18-19.
Let’s dive into the seventeenth edition of the series.
The Contenders
It was a day for Special K in Katowice where almost no team could stop Lithuania’s Kamile Nacickaite, not even China as they went out in the Semi-Finals in the last stop. They will undoubtedly come back hungry this time around in Spain.
Though without Lili Wang, the speed of Yujie Chen and the shooting of Kun Huang can more than make up for the absence. Mingling Chen has been on fire in the paint whenever she’s been on the court while Ji Yuan Wan has been the Swiss Army knife addition the team thrives on.
One team that did have an answer for the on-fire Lithuania was USA as the Linnae Harper-Cierra Burdick duo helped lead their side to yet another stop win. It will be the same core returning to action in Spain as they would look to once again, utilize their playmaking and gritty defense to set themselves up for a consecutive win.
They will have to go through some marquee teams though, none who will be supported as strongly as home side Spain. Talisman Sandra Ygueravide is set to return, which most times is enough to guarantee success. Gracia Alonso and Juana Camilion will take to the court as well, forming 3 of the four that won the Orleans stop earlier in the competition. Cecilia Muhate was instrumental in Spain’s run in the FIBA 3x3 World Cup 2023 and will bolster the side just as much.
The perennial commercial contenders are back with Neftchi. The four that have won multiple stops with their disruptive defense and lethal scoring will once again take to the court. It wasn’t their best outing in Poland, losing narrowly to Italy before falling victim in OT to Lithuania. Their wins speak for themselves though, making them wholly competent to win it all.
The Field
The Netherlands have been the “almost” side of the Women’s Series this season, having come close to winning it all, but just falling short. Most recently it was to the home side China in Yichang where they lost by just one point. The side led by Janis Boonstra has been incredibly fun to watch, pulling out tricks on the regular from their bag, but this time they will be out for nothing short of a stop win, something they’ll see as a long time coming.
Sc. Yuanda have been one of the most active sides in the tournament and have taken some of the best sides in the competition to their limit, but are yet to register a stop win. Their style of defense has been effective and their experience in the event is expected to pay dividends.
If you’re looking for highlight teams, you have your fair share in Melilla with Egypt and Portugal competing. Hesis, crossovers and flashy passes are their thing, and when they take to the court, Do. Not. Blink.
Pools
Pool A: China, Czech Republic, Egypt
Pool B: Neftchi (AZR), Düsseldorf ZOOS (GER), Portugal
Pool C: Spain, Sc. Yuanda (CHN), Azerbaijan
Pool D: Netherlands. USA, Melilla
How to watch
The action goes down in Spain on August 18-19 and you can catch it all on the FIBA 3x3 YouTube channel