FIBA 3x3 World Championships 2016 Results: Scores and Highlights from Tuesday
The FIBA 3x3 World Championships kicked off Tuesday in Guangzhou, China, featuring Qatar and the United States beginning their title defenses in the men's and women's divisions, respectively.
It was a big day for Team USA on both sides, as the men and women each started off 2-0. The Japanese men, Serbian men, Hungarian women and Argentine women also won both of their games, while a number of teams in both draws split, which suggests the tournament should be highly competitive and unpredictable moving forward.
With the first day of action in the books, here is a rundown of the men's and women's results, as well as a recap of the top games and moments from Tuesday.
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Men's Results
| D | USA | Netherlands | 15-11 |
| D | Japan | Turkey | 21-16 |
| D | Netherlands | China | 19-16 |
| D | USA | Turkey | 20-12 |
| D | Japan | China | 19-14 |
| A | Qatar | Italy | 19-15 |
| A | Russia | New Zealand | 22-12 |
| A | Serbia | Qatar | 21-16 |
| A | Italy | New Zealand | 21-11 |
| A | Serbia | Russia | 21-14 |
The American men have yet to reach the semifinals at the FIBA 3x3 World Championships, but their performance Tuesday suggests they may finally have the talent needed to take the next step.
Team USA scored a pair of big victories with a 15-11 win over the fifth-seeded Netherlands and a 20-12 triumph against Turkey.
The clash with the Netherlands was a tough, physical affair with plenty of action in the paint, including this impressive, putback slam by former DePaul standout Myke Henry, courtesy of FIBA 3x3 on Twitter:
".@usabasketball's @MykeHenry20 touches the Guangzhou skyline for the emphatic put-back #3x3WCH ➡ https://t.co/GIgVf4uums pic.twitter.com/JGRkcFxR4M
— FIBA3x3 (@FIBA3x3) October 11, 2016"
Henry wasn't the only one doing work inside, though, as Netherlands big man Bas Rozendaal recorded a highlight-reel dunk of his own:
Despite the Netherlands' hard-charging style, Team USA managed to come out on top in a game that may have decided who will win Pool D.
The Americans supplemented that win with a fairly comfortable victory over Turkey, as Henry, former Missouri star Stefhon Hannah, Oklahoma City University alum Kavon Lytch and former Wisconsin-Green Bay standout Alfonzo McKinnie established themselves as the team to beat in their group.
Team USA has company in its pool, though, as Japan defeated both China and Turkey, which means the upcoming clash between the United States and Japan will most likely be for supremacy in Pool D.
Both the United States and Japan look like threats to make deep runs in China, but the favorite appears to be Serbia following its wins over Qatar and Russia to kick off the tournament.
Qatar beat Serbia to win the FIBA 3x3 world title two years ago, but the Serbs got some level of revenge Tuesday with a 21-16 victory.
Top-seeded Serbia also picked up a 21-14 win against No. 8 Russia, which suggests it has a great chance to return to the top of the podium after winning the inaugural championship in 2012.
Serbia is the clear team to beat in Pool A, but there is an intriguing race shaping up for the second quarterfinal spot in that group, as defending champion Qatar, Russia and Italy are all 1-1.
Day 1 at the FIBA 3x3 World Championships showcased a great deal of parity, and that should make for some exciting and nerve-wracking moments through the remainder of pool play.
Women's Results
| C | USA | Italy | 21-14 |
| C | Spain | Chinese Taipei | 18-13 |
| C | Chinese Taipei | Japan | 13-10 |
| C | Italy | Spain | 15-14 |
| C | USA | Japan | 21-12 |
| B | Argentina | Macau | 21-8 |
| B | Australia | Andorra | 14-9 |
| B | Hungary | Macau | 21-5 |
| B | Argentina | Australia | 18-16 |
| B | Hungary | Andorra | 21-8 |
The Americans are the two-time defending FIBA 3x3 world champions on the women's side, and they made it clear Tuesday they are still the team to beat by defeating Italy and Japan in routine fashion by scores of 21-14 and 21-12, respectively.
Linnae Harper, Alexis Jennings, Natalie Romeo and Chatrice White comprise the young team, as all of them are 21 years of age or younger.
A relative lack of experience didn't appear to hamper them, especially in their opening game, which was a rout of fourth-seeded Italy.
Team USA was the only squad in Pool C to reach the 21-point plateau in its games Tuesday, as the other games hit the 10-minute mark before any team could score 21.
By virtue of its pair of wins, the United States is all alone in first place in Pool C, as Spain, Italy and Chinese Taipei are all 1-1, while Japan is 0-2.
Although they still have two group games remaining, the Americans are in ideal position to reach the quarterfinals and make a run at another FIBA 3x3 world title.
While Team USA may be favored, two other teams established themselves as contenders Tuesday, Hungary and Argentina.
The Hungarians, who are seeded second, put up 21 points on both Macau and Andorra, while holding them each to single digits.
Argentina made quick work of Macau as well, and although Australia posed a challenge, it managed to hold off the Aussies by an 18-16 score.
Hungary and Argentina are tied atop Pool B, and they have a legitimate chance to give Team USA a run for its money should either of them meet the United States in the knockout rounds.
Follow @MikeChiari on Twitter.
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