Serbia and Canada emerged victorious at the FIBA 3x3 Sponsor | Red Bull Champions Cup 2025, clinching the men’s and women’s titles, respectively, after thrilling encounters against the Netherlands and Spain at Central World on March 16.
The men’s final featured a highly anticipated showdown between Serbia and the Netherlands. The Dutch took control early, led by Worthy de Jong’s explosive drives, but the Serbians remained composed, with Marko Brankovic and Stefan Milivojevic keeping their team in contention.
With just over two minutes left, the Netherlands held an 11-8 advantage, but Serbia responded, with Milivojevic stepping up in the final moments. A crucial two-pointer and a key foul drawn helped Serbia edge ahead. With 38 seconds remaining, Serbia led 16-14, but a clutch two-pointer from de Jong tied the game. However, a subsequent foul sent Serbia to the free-throw line, where they converted one of two shots—just enough to secure a dramatic 17-16 victory and the gold medal.
On the women’s side, Canada and Spain, both unbeaten, delivered an intense and physical final. Early on, post players Cecilia Muhate (Spain) and Saicha Grant-Allen (Canada) traded baskets in a hard-fought contest. The teams remained evenly matched throughout, exchanging baskets in a fast-paced battle.
As the clock wound down, Canada gained the upper hand through timely plays by Grant-Allen and Katherine Plouffe. Despite a late push from Spain, Canada held on for a 15-13 win, securing their place in history as the first-ever women’s champions of the FIBA 3x3 Champions Cup.
In the bronze medal games, Australia’s women’s team edged out Germany in a tense battle, with a late bucket from Hannah Hank sealing the win. On the men’s side, Australia and the United States delivered another high-octane contest, with scores tied at 20 apiece in the final moments. A late foul by Team USA sent Australia to the free-throw line, where John Dillon Stith sank the decisive shot, earning the Aussies their second bronze medal of the tournament.
Serbia’s Stefan Milivojevic proved to be the driving force behind his team’s success, scoring 36 points across five games, including 10 in the final. His clutch performance secured him the tournament MVP award. He was joined in the men's Team of the Tournament by Worthy de Jong (Netherlands), whose stellar play led his team to silver, and Alex Higgins-Titsha (Australia), who was instrumental in securing bronze.
For the women, Canada’s Saicha Grant-Allen dominated in the paint, posting 32 points and a tournament-high 40.7 player value, earning her MVP honors. She was joined in the women's Team of the Tournament by Cecilia Muhate (Spain) and Miela Goodchild (Australia), who led their teams to silver and bronze, respectively.
The FIBA 3x3 Sponsor | Red Bull Champions Cup 2025 marked an electrifying debut, showcasing world-class talent and cementing its place as a premier event in the 3x3 basketball calendar.