Sydney University’s men’s and women’s teams have made it through to the 2003 FISU University 3X3 Basketball World Cup to be held in October.
After winning the men’s and women’s National 3X3 Basketball crowns in April this year, the Sydney University teams progressed to the Oceania Qualifiers held in Auckland, New Zealand, on Friday and Saturday. Impressively they came away with both Oceania titles and a pathway to the World Cup.
The men’s squad for the Oceania Qualifiers included Matthew Wacher, Mikey Yoong, Mitch Smith and Chandler Skelton, while the women’s squad included Holy Wills, Carla Pitman, Meg Jefferson and Alexandra Kayrouz.
Sydney University’s women’s side went through the tournament undefeated. They accounted for Auckland University of Technology 21-10, Wollongong University 21-9 and Lincoln University 21-18 in their Pool A matches before knocking over Wollongong University 21-6 in their semi-final and Lincoln University 21-18 in the final.
The Sydney University men’s team had a tougher run, losing to Canterbury University 18-17, Victoria University 21-17 and Monash University 21-18 in their Pool matches, before accounting for New Caledonia 21-18 in their quarter-final and Canterbury University 21-17 in their semi-final. They then took out the title with a 21-18 result over Monash University in the final.
Teams from across the Oceania region battled it out in Auckland for the chance to progress to the World Cup.
One of the fastest growing sports in the world, 3X3 basketball is played three-a-side on a half-court set-up with one backboard.
The Australian University titles in April attracted 45 teams from 23 universities from across the country, with 180 students competing in the three-day competition.
Sydney University’s men’s and women’s teams lost just one game en route to their first 3×3 basketball national titles, with the men edging out Monash University and Macquarie University for the silver and bronze medals and the women taking gold from the University of Wollongong and Macquarie University.
They now have the world in their sights.
