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Home News Road to Xiamen 2017: European powerhouses ready to step up their game

Road to Xiamen 2017: European powerhouses ready to step up their game

8 September 2017

 

 

Europe is a powerhouse in 3×3 Basketball. At the FISU World University League, this is no different with the European women striking gold in 2016 and the men playing in the 2015 and 2016 finals

 

 

LAUSANNE, SWITZERLAND – With the 3×3 world descending on China’s southeast coast for the beginning of the 3×3 World University League finals on Thursday, it’s time to check in with the European teams, many looking poised for a deep run.

 

 

All told, 38 continental men’s and women’s teams played in the European Universities 3×3 Basketball Championship in Split (CRO) last July for the right to book their tickets to Xiamen for the 3×3 World University League – 2017 Finals. In the end, two men’s and two women’s team earned a direct path to this year’s finals.

 

 

With just days to go before the League finals tip-off on Thursday with team pool play, it’s time to check in with the teams representing Europe at the Huaqiao University campus, the centre of world university 3×3 basketball.

 

With the Lithuanian Sport University already pre-qualified as the reigning League victor, the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam earned a spot in the finals  

 The University of Kragujevac, Serbia, was founded in 1976 and is the fourth largest of Serbia’s six public universities. The university offers 118 study programs in the fields of natural sciences and mathematics, social and human sciences, medical sciences, engineering sciences and arts. It integrates functions of all faculties and organizational units in its structure, by implementing unique policy aimed at constant improving of higher education, and improving the quality of teaching, scientific research and artistic development of youth. The 3×3 team is currently European Universities champion, having defeated Saint-Petersburg University (RUS) by 21-17 in the final. In 2016, University of Kragujevac reached the semi-finals before losing 13-11 to Université Bordeaux (FRA).

 

The University of Kragujevac, Serbia saw its 2016 title chances fall 13-11 to Université Bordeaux in the semifinals Saint-Petersburg State University of Technology and Design was founded in 1928 in St. Petersburg, Russia. The university is a non-profit public higher education institution that is officially accredited and recognized by the Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation. The coeducational university offers courses and programs that lead to higher education degrees at an educational complex that includes 2 higher schools, 18 Institutes and 2 colleges. The university has over 16,000 students majoring in design, the humanities, engineering, economy and pedagogy. This will be the second time Saint-Petersburg State University participates in the League finals. Last year in the WUL they lost 21-17 in the quarterfinals to the eventual winner UQAM (CAN).

 

3×3 Basketball brings an exciting sports atmosphere that appeals to players and crowds alike  Vasyl Stefanyk Precarpathian National University is one of the oldest institutions of higher education in Western Ukraine, dating back to 1940 when the Stanislav Teacher Training Institute was established. The higher-education institution changed denomination and status throughout its history, being awarded the University status in 2004. Currently the University is a modern and powerful educational and scientific complex, uniting educational institutes, faculties, educational and consulting centres, college and research centres. The team won the gold medal at the 2017 EUC in Split, Croatia by defeating the Lithuanian Sport University 16-14 in a gripping women’s final. This will be the university’s and Ukraine’s debut at the WUL.

 

 The road to the League finals includes plenty of stout competition

Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, was founded in 1880 and transformed from a small institution into a broad, research-intensive university attended by a wide variety of students of diverse backgrounds. University in the Netherlands has over 23,000 registered students, 2,200 faculty members and researchers and 1,400 administrative staff. The university was invited to the WUL since Lithuanian Sport University (2nd placed team at the EUC) was already qualified as winner of the 2016 WUL edition. This will be both the first for Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam and also a team from the Netherlands in the 3×3 League finals.

 

Will another team from Europe celebrate after this year’s edition of the 3×3 World University League finals? The Road to Xiamen 2017 will continue tomorrow with the presentation of the qualified teams from New Zealand and Australia. The 3×3 FISU World University League – 2017 Finals will take place in Xiamen (China) from 14-17 September.