USA Finishes 3-1 in 2022 FIBA 3x3 World Cup Pool Play
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The USA Basketball Men’s 3x3 National Team secured a second-place finish in Pool D at the 2022 FIBA 3x3 World Cup by splitting its two games on Thursday at the Groenplaats in Antwerp, Belgium. The USA dropped an overtime thriller to Belgium, 20-18, but finished on a high note by defeating Egypt 21-11.
The final day of pool play for the USA men began in dramatic fashion in front of a capacity crowd against the host country Belgium. The game was tied on 10 separate occasions and was decided on the first overtime possession. In FIBA 3x3, the first team to score two points is the winner and Belgium did so at the free throw line after earning a foul call on a two-point shot.
USA was led by James Parrott’s first double-five as a member of the National Team. He finished with seven points and eight rebounds to go with two acrobatic blocks. Parrott and Khalil Iverson were a force inside, slowing the Belgium offense to just nine one-point baskets.
Dominique Jones was the highlight in the game against Egypt. The Harlem, New York, native scored 10 points in a variety of ways, including three makes from deep two-point range. Disco Domo had five of the USA’s final six points of the game and closed the game out on his third 2-pointer.
Overall, the U.S. shot 80% on one-point shots in the game, the highest mark for the squad in Pool Play.
Finishing second in Pool D, the USA heads to the Last 16 to take on New Zealand (third place in Pool A) on Saturday, June 25. The game time is to be determined.
If the U.S. advances to the quarterfinals, which would also be played on Saturday, then they will face the first-place finisher in Pool B. All remaining games will be streamed on www.youtube.com/fiba3x3.
Different than five-on-five, 3x3 is played on a half-court with a 10-minute game clock and 12-second shot clock. Play is continuous, as teams “clear” the ball behind the 2-point line following a made basket, defensive rebound or steal. The first team to score 21 points via 1-pointer field goals or 2-pointers behind the arc is victorious; or if time expires then the team leading wins.
