3x3 basketball once again proved why it is one of the most dynamic and unpredictable sports on the planet. From September 11 to 13, the Belgian city of Antwerp became the world capital of streetball, as 12 of Europe’s best men’s and women’s national teams came together at the iconic Groenplaats.
Three days of action produced two very different championship stories. Latvia arrived determined to reclaim the men’s title it had surrendered to Lithuania a year earlier, while the Netherlands set out to defend its women’s crown. In the end, both teams reached their ultimate goal, but they took very different paths to get there.
Latvia men’s national team triumph
The men’s tournament lived up to the boldest expectations, with fierce competition throughout. Latvia was the undisputed star of the weekend, putting together a brilliant campaign in Antwerp and finishing with a perfect record of 5 wins in 5 matches.
The Latvians showed their championship pedigree as early as the group stage, topping a tough three-team group packed with top sides and beating the defending champions, Lithuania, along the way.
Cohesive team play and the composure of its leaders, including experienced Nauris Miezis and future tournament MVP Kristaps Gluditis, who scored 32 points, helped the Baltic side cruise to the final and lift the coveted trophy. For Latvia, this was its second European title, following its first triumph in 2017, also in Antwerp.
The silver medalists, the Netherlands, delivered an equally impressive performance. After advancing from the group stage in second place, the Dutch side put on a real show in the playoffs: it edged Germany 16-14 in the quarterfinals, then defeated an ambitious Serbia 20-14 in the semifinals. Only in the gold-medal game did the Netherlands finally come up short against Latvia, losing 10-19 and taking home the silver at the FIBA 3x3 Europe Cup.
France claimed the bronze: after a heartbreaking 15-17 semifinal defeat to the eventual champions Latvia, the French players regrouped and beat Serbia 21-14 in the third-place game.
The Netherlands’ golden hat-trick
The women’s tournament had a dramatic story of its own, with the Netherlands taking center stage. The reigning champions delivered a perfect 5-0 record to successfully defend the European title they had won a year earlier.
The Dutch side beat Czechia (21-3) and Slovenia (19-15) in the playoffs before defeating Spain (16-13) in the final. Noortje Driessen, the Netherlands’ standout player, was named tournament MVP after putting up an incredible 44 points to help secure a historic triumph. The victory gave the Netherlands its third European title in women’s 3x3 basketball (2023, 2025, 2026), cementing its status as the dominant force in European 3x3 basketball.
Spain took silver after putting up a strong fight against the champions in the final. Azerbaijan completed the podium after reaching the final at the 2025 tournament and returning to the European podium this year with a 21-18 win over Slovenia.
World of high-speed sports
The FIBA 3x3 Europe Cup 2026 in Antwerp was a perfect example of how far 3x3 basketball has come in recent years. Once seen as a niche street version of the sport, 3x3 now brings together national teams from across Europe and enjoys full-scale international backing from FIBA, with 1xBet as a partner. Through close cooperation with the basketball federation, the betting brand continues to play an active role in growing basketball culture worldwide and bringing millions of fans together.
As fall came to an end in Antwerp, the city bid farewell to a spectacular tournament, leaving fans with memories of Latvia’s historic second title, the Netherlands’ third gold medal, the unforgettable atmosphere of world-class street basketball, and anticipation for more international battles to come.
