Tsinghua University takes the women’s title, while Huaqiao University emerges victorious on their home court in the men’s competition
XIAMEN — With championships in the balance, Chinese student-athletes relied on sharpshooting from beyond the arc to turn nail-biters into titles at the 3×3 FISU World University League – 2018 Finals.
McGill University’s Isaiah Cummins finishing with a flourish at the rim during the Montreal team’s run to the championship game on Sunday. A model of consistency, the McGill University men have stood on each of the podium stops the last three years.
The event is the culmination of five continental tournaments that saw 16 men’s and women’s teams qualify for the Finals on China’s southeastern coast. The event is in its fourth edition, one that pits the world’s best university teams against each other on the world stage.
In the women’s competition, Tsinghua University’s Luchenhong Yang sealed the win for her Beijing-based team by connecting on a dagger from the top of the key and then blocking the shot of Viktoriia Kondus of Vasyl Stefanyk University.
Just before the final buzzer, Yang and Kondus, the world’s No. 13 ranked 3×3 player, shook hands at centre court. The score favoured Tsinghau University, 17-14.
The acknowledgement made for a fitting tribute as Yang scored 11 points on 11 shots, while recording four rebounds and a steal. The Ukrainian Kondus was just as effective and nearly as proficient, pouring in 11 points on 12 shots. In 3×3, points inside the arc are worth one point while those beyond score two.
“We had the belief that we would win,” Yang, a 22-year old economic major said after the game.
A chanting Huaqiao University student section were a steady presence on the campus basketball courts all week. During each of Huaqiao University’s seven wins the partisan crowd threw a raucous reception for their hometown quartet.
Huaqiao University didn’t disappoint in the men’s final as they delivered their most complete performance of the tournament. After falling behind early to the Montreal-based McGill University, the home team slowed down their Canadian rivals with stout defense. They then sealed it with three consecutive shots from deep in putting the game away, 21-15.
Xiang Meng driving on Avery Cadogan in the final. “This tournament’s so tough. We’re wheezing, we’re tired. We had to dig in deep,” said Cadogan after qualifying for the final on Sunday. A household name since starring in the hit Chinese reality television series Dunk of China, Xiang Meng hit the defining shot of the men’s tournament. He then injured his hand, only to return into the game on the next possession and immediately thereafter connecting on a two-pointer for a four-point lead. Meng then stole the inbounds pass and quickly kicked the ball out to teammate Yi Zheng. Hitting nothing but net, Zheng’s two-pointer put the game away, 21-15.
“It was such a close team game, I had to make it back onto the court,” Xiang Meng said. “I didn’t know if I could shoot, but when I heard that crowd behind me I couldn’t feel any pain and the shot dropped. Our classmates helped us become victorious.”
Teammate Yi Zheng added: “I had total confidence I’d make that last shot, but it’s beyond words to explain what it means to actually do it.”
Vytautus Magnus University of Lithuania won the men’s bronze medal game over New Zealand’s University of Auckland, 21-16. “We were a little frustrated and kind of lost our composure in the semis,” Ernastas Sederevicius of Vytautus Magnus said. “But we rallied to win the bronze.”
In the women’s bronze medal game, defending champions Chinese Culture University overcame University of Ljubljana, 17-15. “We needed to shoot a little better today to play in the final,” Chinese Culture University’s You Chen Huang said.
Shrugging off a translator she added, “And get stronger’ while laughing and flexing her biceps.
In all, it was a fantastic four days for the teams from China as they picked up both the men’s and women’s titles for the first time. The fourth edition of the 3×3 FISU World University League brought the world’s best student ballers to the fore and the spotlight shined bright on some future stars of the game. The entire tournament can be viewed on FISUTV.
The champions podium from the 3×3 FISU World University League – 2018 Finals in Xiamen, China
Final Results:
Men’s tournament:
1. Huaqiao University (CHN)
2. McGill University (CAN)
3. Vytautas Magnus University (LTU)
Women’s tournament:
1. Tsinghua University (CHN)
2. Vasyl Stefanyk University (UKR)
3. Chinese Culture University (TPE)
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