FIBA 3x3 World Cup Qualifier 2025

GB Basketball Men’s Senior 3x3 team arrived in Baku, Azerbaijan, this weekend, for the FIBA 3x3 World Cup Qualifiers.

After qualifying for the Europe Cup last year, Great Britain won one of three fixtures, defeating Latvia in a 21-20 nailbiter. However, they fell short against France and were knocked out of the competition by Switzerland in the quarter-finals.

Nevertheless, confidence soared as GB, with another year of playing together, after the 3x3 Team’s inauguration in 2024, aimed to secure qualification for the FIBA World Cup in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, next month.

Led by Head Coach Afiz Olaniyan, the final four selected to compete featured veteran forward Ashley Hamilton, dynamic guard Dwayne Lautier-Ogunleye (DLO), powerful forward Hafeez Abdul, and Max Richardson, who would make his debut appearance for his country.

Standing in their way, a tough opener against Canada and then the hosts, Azerbaijan.

Canada VS Great Britain

GB started well, executing a pick and roll as DLO found Hamilton down low for the early score.

Canada would claim a quick 4-1 lead, however, with back-to-back twos (threes count as twos in 3x3), punishing GB’s lack of discipline handling the ball.

Great Britain looked to Hamilton to set a perfectly timed screen for Richardson this time, who passed back to Hamilton over the defence for a thunderous dunk.

Two-pointers denoted an unfortunate theme for GB, as Alex Johnson hit yet another from deep, elongating the Canadian lead.

Nevertheless, DLO continued to attack, barrelling his way through the defence for a tough layup off the glass. Now drawing the attention of two defenders, Richardson was left wide open at the top of the key and drained the two-point shot.

Canada’s assault on the basket continued, generating open shots from deep or easy layups with their cutting, extending their lead to 11-5 with six minutes to go.

GB capitalised on some overexcited defending by Canada, securing multiple trips to the free throw line and freeing up Hamilton for the pure jumpshot from 2 feet behind the two-point line.

But Canada’s offensive movement continued to create open looks at the basket, punctuated by a high-flying alley-oop.

GB battled back with dynamic driving from Richardson and DLO, but ultimately could not overcome the Canadian two-point barrage as Steve Sir hit two timely jumpshots to win the game for Canada, 21-14.

Great Britain VS Azerbaijan

Great Britain needed to come out firing against Azerbaijan, with victory essential to their hopes of qualification for the FIBA World Cup in June.

And they did so emphatically, with a perfectly drawn-up play by Coach Olaniyan. DLO and Hamilton ran a pick and roll, drawing in the defence, allowing Abdul to flare to the top-left of the key for a wide-open jumpshot. Swish.

Two-point shooting was a clear point of focus for GB in this one, with the team firing, unsuccessfully, from multiple angles early in the game, until Max Richardson was caught and sent to the line for two free throws.

It continued to be a cagey affair, disrupted by fouls and free throws. However, there were sparks of life, catalysed by a gorgeous crossover by Hamilton to navigate around his defender and score at the rim. DLO followed suit, ducking in and out for the layup off the glass, showing off his crafty footwork.

This energy was key for GB, who responded to two quick Azerbaijan buckets with two huge dunks from Hamilton, blasting through the defence. Abdul got in the action as well with a well-timed jump-stop, creating enough space in the paint to bank in the layup, ballooning the GB lead to 10-6.

As the game steadied, Azerbaijan’s ball movement shone through, with nicely-orchestrated back-cuts and give-and-gos prompting a run of scoring for the hosts.

In response, GB lent back into their shooting, as Hamilton’s jumper from deep caught a friendly roll. DLO then took over, hitting back-to-back contested twos and putting the team on his back.

Despite some more flowing offence from Azerbaijan, GB’s execution in the final minutes carried them to a 21-12 victory, capped off by yet another Hamilton dunk.

With the win secured, GB would finish second in Pool B of Round 1, extending their qualification campaign.

Montenegro VS Great Britain

Having finished second in Pool B, GB would take on Montenegro for a chance at qualifying immediately for the FIBA World Cup in Mongolia. The loser of this fixture would play the loser of Canada vs Rwanda for a final chance at qualification.

This was a tough fixture for GB as Montenegro finished first across all teams on points difference, winning their two matches against Rwanda and Iran.

It was a difficult start as, after Abdul missed a contested layup, Montenegro quickly converted an easy one themselves.

GB managed to walk in step with Montengro as the game got underway, with DLO drawing a foul on a drive to the basket and Hamilton forcing his way through contact for a reverse layup.

After a monster dunk from Aleksa Vujadinovic, DLO returned the favour with a sweet euro-step layup plus the foul to tie it up at 2-2.

Despite early offensive success, Montenegro racked up fouls quickly, forced by the physicality of play from Hamilton and Abdul, reaching seven with almost eight minutes to go. This meant any foul they committed for the rest of the game would give GB two free throws.

DLO recognised this quickly, attacking the body of the Montengran defender and drawing yet another foul to bring the score to 6-5 in favour of Montenegro.

DLO continued to take over the game, executing a dizzying spin-move before dishing to Richardson for the open layup.

Montenegro’s foul trouble benefitted GB once again after an innocuous screen violation sent Hamilton to the line, knocking down both foul shots.

Montenegro battled back however, through a bruising drive Miloš Jovanović and later a heavily congested fading two-pointer by Marko Raicevic, tying it up once more at 10-10.

GB’s offence was now firmly under DLO’s command as he converted through contact, employing a perfect up-and-under move to get the defender off his feet before finishing on the step-through.

Froom here, Montenegro’s experience and talent took hold. Led by the dynamic playmaking of Raicevic, they found gap after gap in the GB defence, creating open looks near the rim at will. With momentum heavily in their favour, Jovanović hit a contested step-back two and Vujadinovic extended the shooting onslaught. 19-14 Montenegro.

DLO battled till the end, now GB’s sole offensive hub, but it wasn’t enough, as yet another fading two-pointer fell for Jovanović, winning it for Montenegro 21-14.

GB Basketball would now face Rwanda, after their loss to Canada, for their final shot at qualifying for the World Cup next month.

Great Britain VS Rwanda

With qualification on the line – a win or go home scenario – this was a huge test for GB Basketball and the players who desperately wanted to compete in Ulaanbaatar next month.

Rwanda came out flying, however, playing at a rapid but erratic pace and storming to an early 3-1 lead thanks to some explosive driving.

Nevertheless, for each blistering attack Rwanda made this game, Hamilton had a methodical, physical response.

It started with some fantastic footwork as Hamilton carved through the defence for his first basket. Next it was DLO’s turn, attacking after a made three by Rwanda with a tough right handed layup and a sharp flex for good measure.

Hamilton’s strength was overpowering, smothering Rwanda’s drives on one end and earning easy layups on the other.

The fast-pace kept Rwanda in the game as they continued to force defensive lapses and generate wide open shots. But GB’s tactical play and calm attitude allowed them to maintain a narrow lead, baiting Rwanda into foul trouble resulting in free throws and a 8-7 lead.

The tempo simply would not let up, as Hamilton’s devastating dunk and Abdul’s physical drives were matched by Kwizera Hubert Sage’s eye-catching spin, leaving Hamilton in the dust. 10-9 Rwanda.

As the game marched on, Rwanda’s high-speed offence led to unforced errors and turnovers, which Abdul and Richardson punished with timely cuts and drives.

The physicality proved too much for the tiring Rwanda, as Abdul began controlling the glass, securing two offensive rebounds to set up Hamilton for yet another dunk.

In frustration, Rwanda fouled DLO, sending him to the line to seal the game. Final score 21-13.

FIBA 3x3 World Cup 2025: Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia

And with that, GB Basketball secured their spot in the FIBA 3x3 World Cup 2025 in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.

Overall, Head Coach Olaniyan will be pleased with his side’s performance in the qualification stages. They proved a feisty challenger as underdogs against Canada and Montenegro and against hosts Azerbaijan, they showed off their own shooting abilities, with DLO emphatically demonstrating why he is one of the premier offensive talents in 3x3 FIBA basketball.

In their final, must-win contest with Rwanda, GB withstood a swirling offence and carefully executed their gameplan, exploiting the experience and finesse of Hamilton to earn a well-fought victory, and qualification to the World Cup.

The tournament will take place 23-29 June 2025, with 40 teams competing for the title.