Miami-USA players celebrate after beating Vienna-Austria in the finals of the Chooks-to-Go FIBA 3X3 World Tour Cebu Masters. | FIBA 3X3 Photo
CEBU CITY, Philippines — Miami-USA outlasted Vienna-Austria,22-19, to rule the Chooks-to-Go FIBA 3×3 World Tour Cebu Masters on Sunday evening, September 24, 2023, at the jam-packed SM Seaside City Cebu.
Miami-USA was comprised of the same players who finished with a silver medal in last June’s FIBA 3×3 World Cup. They also became the first team from the United States to win a FIBA 3×3 World Tour tournament since 2019.
The victory earned Miami a whopping $40,000 purse, while Vienna received $20,000 for placing second.
Veteran cager and crowd favorite Jimmer Freddete topscored Miami with nine points and four rebounds, including the game-winning two pointer.
Fredette was named the tournament’s “Most Valuable Player.”
“We worked the whole season to be able to get into a position like this. It’s our first Masters final and we’re very thankful,” said Fredette.
“Give credits to Vienna, these guys played extremely hard, it was an awesome tournament, but everybody in this tournament fought hard. We’re very fortunate to come out on top, but you know I’m so thankful to my teammates for pushing through this.”
| FIBA 3X3 Photo
Canyon Barry, son of NBA legend Rick Barry, contributed eight points, while Dylan Travis and Kareem Maddos combined for five points.
Vienna’s Matthias Linortner paced the team with nine points while Nico Kaltenbrunner had six points, and Quincy Diggs chipped in three points.
Despite the loss, Vienna put up a good fight in their championship showdown against Miami.
Miami led the game early, 4-1, but the Austrians slowly trimmed the deficit and eventually grabbed the lead, 10-7, with a blistering 9-2 run.
Vienna managed to maintain their lead halfway in the game, but the Americans slowly pulled themselves close until they cut the lead to just two after Barry nailed a two-pointer.
Barry nailed another two-pointer to put Miami ahead, 15-14.
The Americans didn’t let down on their huge comeback after Travis scored a layup and followed by basket from Barry that gave them a three-point lead, 17-14.
Both teams threw haymakers at each other with Vienna clawing back from the huge deficit and was able to regain the lead, 19-18, with Linortner sinking both his freethrows with a minute left in the game.
However, Fredette delivered back-to-back daggers from the two-point area to ultimately seal Miami’s victory, 22-19.
RELATED STORIES
Tallo’s heroics send Manila Chooks to FIBA 3×3 Cebu Masters Q’finals
FIBA 3×3 Cebu Masters: Manila Chooks came up short, UB-Serbia grab easy win in opener
Lubao MCFASolver-Pampanga cruises into the Cebu Masters’ main draw