BASKETBALL – BAHRAIN representatives Riffa are in a tough Pool A for the season-ending round of the Fiba 3x3 World Tour 2025.
The highly anticipated Manama Final is scheduled to take place this weekend at Bahrain Financial Harbour in Manama, featuring the best 3x3 basketball teams from around the world.
Following successful back-to-back Fiba 3x3 World Tour events in 2023 and 2024, the kingdom hosts the prestigious curtain-closing event for the very first time this Friday and Saturday.
Riffa are one of 11 teams already in the group stage. They are in the same division as Ub from Serbia and Vienna from Austria. Pool B features Miami from the US along with Chongming and Hangzhou, both from China.
Pool C comprises Amsterdam Rabobank from the Netherlands, Raudondvaris Hoptrans from Lithuania, and Partizan from Serbia; while Pool D is composed of Liman from Serbia, Toulouse from France, and one team that will book their berth from the qualifying draw.
The qualifiers feature Skyliners from Germany, Lugano Handong from Switzerland, and Bahrain’s other entrant in the Manama Final, Seef, who are in as the host wild card.
The qualifiers and pool games are scheduled to kick the meeting’s schedule off on Friday. The knockouts are then set for Saturday, beginning with the quarter-finals and followed by the semis and final.
“Hosting the Fiba 3x3 World Tour Final 2025 in Manama is a proud moment for Bahrain and a testament to our growing reputation as a world-class sporting destination,” Bahrain Olympic Committee vice-president Shaikh Isa bin Ali bin Khalifa Al Khalifa was quoted as saying.
“We are thrilled to welcome the world’s best 3x3 basketball players and fans to our shores for an unforgettable celebration of sport, culture, and community.”
Fiba 3x3 managing director Alex Sanchez added: “We are excited to bring down the curtain on this year’s Fiba 3x3 World Tour 2025 in spectacular fashion in downtown Manama.
“Thanks to Bahrain’s world-class organisation, players, fans, and everyone involved can expect an incredible sports festival atmosphere fitting of a world tour final.”
Meanwhile, prior to this weekend’s Manama Final, Bahrain will be staging the first-ever Gulf Basketball Association (GBA) U21 3x3 Championships, set to take place today and tomorrow at the same venue.
Women’s and men’s junior teams from Qatar, Kuwait, Oman, and hosts Bahrain are set to compete. Action in the preliminary round is scheduled to be held today from 4pm.
Bahrain’s women’s squad first take on Kuwait at 4.40pm and then play Qatar at 6.20pm. They complete the opening phase against Oman at 7.40pm.
Amongst the men, Bahrain have two teams. The B squad are in Pool A with Qatar and Oman A. They first play the Qataris at 4pm and then take on Oman A at 5.20pm. Bahrain A are in Pool B with Kuwait and Oman B. The kingdom’s A team face Oman’s B squad at 4.20pm, and then take on the Kuwaitis at 7pm.
The semi-finals for both competitions will be held tomorrow, along with the gold and bronze medal games.
patrick@gdnmedia.bh
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