On the evening of November 3, the Dongguan Dongshi C Park was packed to the brim as the excitement reached a fever pitch. The scoreboard froze at 21-11, signaling victory for the Wanhuitu team from Dongguan, who clinched the championship title in the FIBA Open 3x3 Guangdong Provincial Basketball Tournament. This win also secured them the last coveted spot for the national finals.
According to preliminary estimates, over 20,000 audience members attended the event over two days, with more than 500,000 viewers tuning in via various online platforms.
As a highlight event of the 2024 Dongguan Basketball City Culture Festival, the FIBA Open 3x3 National Finals will take place on the same court from November 9 to 10. Teams from 12 major competition zones across the country will converge in Dongguan, vying for the highest honor in three-on-three basketball under the auspices of FIBA.
The Guangdong Provincial Finals featured 16 teams, all elite competitors who emerged from 96 teams across five provincial tournaments.
On the first day of the finals, local teams, including Wanhuitu, the RR Sports Team, and the Jiali United Sports Team, triumphed over their opponents and advanced to the quarterfinals. Other teams making it to the knockout stage included the Longhua Construction Team, Taishan Guanpin Sports Team, Zhouxing Sports Team, LCT Team, and Spark Team.
In the quarterfinals, Wanhuitu, Longhua Construction, Spark, and Taishan Guanpin teams defeated their rivals to reach the semifinals. In a decisive semifinal match, Wanhuitu overpowered Taishan Guanpin with a score of 21-10. From Shenzhen, two teams clashed in the semifinals, with Spark Team emerging victorious against Longhua Construction with a score of 21-8.
Notably, the successful hosting of the provincial and national finals of the FIBA 3x3 Basketball Open in Dongguan received substantial support from various organizations. The Dongguan Sports Lottery Management Center played a significant role, aligning with its mission to build a "responsible, trustworthy, and high-quality national public welfare lottery." Through its charitable funds, the lottery aims to boost social welfare initiatives in Dongguan, supporting sports events, promoting fitness, and advocating a healthy lifestyle, while embodying the social responsibility of a "responsible lottery."
On November 8, players participating in the finals will arrive in Dongguan for registration and to take promotional photos. Beyond the competition, they will have the opportunity to experience Dongguan's rich culture and savor its unique culinary offerings.
This tournament not only showcased the spirit of competition but also highlighted the vibrant basketball culture in Dongguan, promising an exciting lead-up to the national finals.
Reporter: Xie Maishi, Gong Mingyang, Zheng Jiaqi, Wang Ying, Zhang Fan
Photo: Gong Mingyang
Editor: Wei Shen, James, Shen He
