NY Harlem's FIBA 3x3 World Tour Debrecen Masters Title Hopes End With Loss to Novi Sad
NY Harlem saw their FIBA 3x3 World Tour Debrecen Masters title hopes come to an end with a 21-12 loss to 3x3 power Novi Sad in Sunday's quarterfinals in Debrecen, Hungary. NY Harlem finished 2-1 overall after going 2-0 in Saturday's pool play and earning Pool D's No. 1 seed for Sunday's quarterfinals round.
The FIBA 3x3 World Tour Debrecen Masters 2020, featuring 12 teams, is the first FIBA official competition since FIBA suspended all its competitions due to the COVID-19 outbreak on March 13, 2020.
The pinnacle of the 3x3 professional circuit – the FIBA 3x3 World Tour – is back with three consecutive Masters competitions: Debrecen Masters (August 29-30), Hungary Masters (Sept. 1-2) and Europe Masters (Sept. 4-5). Prize money at each Masters competition stop is $109,000.
NY Harlem, comprised of Kidani Brutus, Marcel Esonwune, Dominique Jones and Joey King, scored first as the two 3x3 powers traded baskets in the game's early goings. NY Harlem trailed Novi Sad 5-4 when Jones dropped a two-pointer to lift his team to a 6-5 lead.
Tied at 6, Brutus scored and was fouled on the shot and after sinking the free throw, NY Harlem led 8-6 with 7:31 to play. Jones increased NY Harlem's advantage to 9-6 with a score off a drive.
The tide changed at that point as Novi Sad went on a 7-0 scoring run over the next 2:01 to take control 13-9 with 4:55 to play. King scored to stop the run and make the score 13-10, but Novi Sad finished strong and outscored NY Harlem 8-2 to claim the 21-12 win with 2:53 remaining in the game. Jones led NY Harlem with six points and King added three points.
Played on a half court with a 10-minute clock, and a 12-second shot clock, the first team to 21 points, or the team in the lead at the end of regulation, is the winner. Olympic fans will see the the inclusion of 3x3 in the Tokyo Olympic Games next July.
NY Harlem will continue its 3x3 World Tour Masters play Sept. 1-2 at the Hungary Masters in Debrecen.