Novi Sad Al Wahda defended their FIBA 3x3 World Tour title ©FIBA

United Arab Emirates' team Novi Sad Al Wahda successfully defended their International Basketball (FIBA) 3x3 World Tour title after claiming five straight victories in front of a home crowd in Abu Dhabi.

Novi Sad Al Wahda had emerged from the pool phase of the tournament unbeaten and continued that form by recording an impressive 21-13 win over Manila North of the Philippines, before overcoming Slovenia’s Trbovlje 16-14 in a closely fought semi-final.

It set-up an encounter with another Slovenian team, Kranj, who they had beaten the last two editions of the annual event.

A superb performance from the number one 3x3 player in the world, Serbia's Dusan Domovic Bulut, helped them continue their superb run of form against Kranj, with the home team eventually taking the title 17-14.

Having helped his team seal the $30,000 (£19,000/€26,000) first place prize money and an automatic spot in the FIBA 3x3 All Stars tournament, due to be held on December 11 in Qatar’s capital Doha, Bulut was rewarded with the most valuable player award having scored a tournament high 42 points across the matches.

Dusan Bulut was given the most valuable player award
Serbian Dusan Bulut, who plays for United Arab Emirates' Novi Sad Al Wahda, was given the most valuable player award after helping his team retain their title in Abu Dhabi ©FIBA

The United States’ NY Harlem team belied their pre-tournament seeding of 11 to reach the semi-finals where they eventually came up short by losing 21-19 to Kranj, still good enough for an impressive third place.

Poland’s Rafal Lipinski also left Abu Dhabi having defended a title after the professional dunker triumphed in the FIBA 3x3 World Tour Mercedes-Benz EMC dunk competition for the fourth consecutive year.

Lipinski ended the contest with a total score of 89 after Canada’s Jordan Kilganon failed with his final two attempts to end with a score of 30.

The final individual event, the shoot-out contest, was won by America's Derek Griffin after he finished with a total of 10 points.

Brazil’s Guilherme Rojas finished runner-up on five points.



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