Both Australia's men's and women's Gangurrus have taken home gold in the FIBA 3x3 Asia Cup.
Australia has secured both the men’s and women’s title at the 2024 FIBA 3x3 Asia Cup overnight, with men’s team taking its fourth crown in five attempts.
?? Australia win double at FIBA 3x3 Asia Cup 2024! ?#3x3Asia x @BasketballAus
— FIBA3x3 (@FIBA3x3) March 31, 2024
The Gangurrus were forced to play their way into the pools, and qualifying wins over Tahiti, Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan saw them take their place in a group alongside Japan and the Philippines.
A 21-15 win over China in the quarterfinals saw Australia take on Mongolia in what was a rematch of the 2023 final, and 11 points from Mackay Meteor Todd Blanchfield meant Australia eased to a 21-11 win.
Australia then cruised to a 21-7 win over fellow finalists Iran to take the title. Blanchfield scored seven points in the final, while Albury-Wodonga Bandits signing William Hickey added five points.
Centre of Excellence star James O’Donnell and Lakeside Lightning forward Josh Davey added five and four points in the win respectively.
Australia won three straight titles in 2018, 2019 and 2022 before the winning streak was broken by Mongolia last year.
Blanchfield also finished as the tournament’s top scorer with 47 points in five games being named the MVP.
?Back-to-back?
— FIBA3x3 (@FIBA3x3) March 31, 2024
Watch the best of Australia ?? as they won their 4th #3x3Asia Cup title ??@BasketballAus | @AUSOlympicTeam pic.twitter.com/Pad3eHlkVT
The women took out their second consecutive 3x3 Asia Cup crown with an 18-13 win over New Zealand, which has marked the second year in a row Australia’s women have defeated its trans-Tasman neighbours in the final.
The eventual finalists met in their opening game of the tournament, which Australia won 22-9, and the final marked the only time in the tournament Australia conceded double-digit points to any opposition across the campaign.
Perth Redbacks signing Anneli Maley top-scored for Australia with eight points in the final, while Marena Whittle, Alex Wilson and North Adelaide Rockets star Lauren Mansfield scored four, four and two respectively.
Maley’s final performance saw her end the tournament as the top scorer with 31 points, while Whittle added 30 points across the campaign.
?? Australia are your #3x3Asia Cup 2024 winners ??@BasketballAus | @AUSOlympicTeam pic.twitter.com/m0PC53XrwD
— FIBA3x3 (@FIBA3x3) March 31, 2024
Check out where the 3x3 Asia Cup winners will be playing in the 2024 season below:
Anneli Maley (Perth Redbacks)
Josh Davey (Lakeside Lightning)
Lauren Mansfield (North Adelaide Rockets)
William Hickey (Albury-Wodonga Bandits)
Todd Blanchfield (Mackay Meteors)
