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New Zealand teams win FIBA 3x3 World Cup Qualifier Asia 2022, earn last tickets to Antwerp

MARCH 26, 2022 DOHA (Qatar) - Both New Zealand teams qualified to the Crelan FIBA 3x3 World Cup 2022 after winning the Asian Qualifier in Doha, Qatar on March 25-26. In the men's category, New Zealand defeated Iran in an absolutely thrilling final (21-20). After both teams had a chance to win the game, it was the FIBA 3x3 U18 World Cup 2015 MVP Tai Wynyard who drove to the basket for the game-winner, which sent the 3x3 Tall Blacks to Belgium. This marks New Zealand's comeback to the FIBA 3x3 World Cup with the men's team after missing the last edition in Amsterdam in 2019.   The speedy 24-year-old Nikau McCullough led all scorers in the men's category with 37 points. He had 11 in the final only, including a clutch two to tie the game at 20. New Zealand also went undefeated in the women's competition but gave their fans a little more breathing room, with a 19-12 triumph in the final against Uzbekistan. The 23-year-old Tiarna Clarke shot the lights out for the 3x3 Tall Ferns in Doha. She led all players in scoring with 30 points, with a game-high 10 in the final. FINAL STANDINGS Men: 1.  New Zealand 2.  Iran 3. Qatar 4.  Malaysia 5.  Sri Lanka 6. Kazakhstan Women: 1. New Zealand 2. Uzbekistan 3. Iran 4. Kazakhstan 5. Sri Lanka 6. Qatar The seventh edition of the FIBA 3x3 World Cup will take place in Antwerp, Belgium on June 21-26.  ### About 3x3 Exciting, urban and innovative, 3x3 is inspired by several forms of streetball played worldwide and is considered the world’s number one urban team sport. Steered by FIBA, games see two teams of three players face off on a basketball half-court. It was played successfully for the first time in international competition at the 2010 Youth Olympic Games in Singapore and since then has benefited from the launch of a yearly  professional circuit for men and women (World Tour and Women’s Series respectively) and national-team competitions. 3x3 made its Olympic debut at the Tokyo 2020 Games. Wilson is the Global Ball Partner. FIBA 3x3 events are played on Enlio floors with Schelde backstops, Bodet shot-clocks and the Magic Sky canopy system. For further information about 3x3, visit fiba3x3.basketball, FIBA 3x3 accounts on Douyin, Facebook, Instagram, Sina Weibo, Tencent, TikTok, Twitch, Twitter, Youku and YouTube or contact 3x3@fiba.basketball. FIBA Central Board approves expansion of Women's World Cup 2026 MARCH 25, 2022 MIES (Switzerland) - FIBA's Central Board convened today at the Patrick Baumann House of Basketball for the first time since its inaugural meeting in September 2019. The Central Board had not been able to meet in person due to the pandemic and members were warmly welcomed to FIBA headquarters on the shores of Lake Geneva. The Central Board along with FIBA HQ staff were also invited to a special function on Thursday night to celebrate the occasion.     With a very busy calendar of events for 2022, including the Women's World Cup and three Continental Cups, the first meeting of the year had a full agenda. The following key topics were discussed:   FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup 2022 and Qualifying Tournaments The Central Board heard reports on the recent FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup 2022 Qualifying Tournaments that were held in February in Serbia, Japan, the USA and the Dominican Republic. A progress report was also received on the ongoing preparations for the upcoming FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup 2022. The draw for the highly anticipated event was recently confirmed in Sydney, Australia, and pre-ticket sales were launched earlier this month, with general public tickets going on sale on March 29.      FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 and Qualifiers Preparations continue for the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 across the three host countries of the Philippines, Japan and Indonesia. Reports were received on this progress along with the two Qualifier windows that have been played, the most recent in February. The next window will take place from June 27 to July 5.    The FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 also moved another step closer to becoming a reality earlier this month, with tickets for the global showcase in the Philippines, Japan and Indonesia going on sale.   FIBA U17 Basketball World Cup's 2022 The Central Board received reports on the upcoming U17 World Cups, with the men's tournament taking place in Spain from July 2 to 10, and the women in Hungary, as part of the multi-host model, from July 9 to 17. Both draws for the men's and women's were confirmed this month in Malaga and Budapest.    FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup 2026 Following the recent review of the current women's competition system and the Executive Committee's decision to implement a new competition that will act as pre-qualifiers to the next World Cup or to the next Olympic Games, the Central Board has approved the proposed expansion of the FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup 2026 to 16 teams, and the roster of the Women's World Cup Qualifiers to 24 teams qualified from the respective Continental Cups 2025. These decisions are in line with FIBA's Women in Basketball strategic objective, with the aim of granting a larger number of National Federations meaningful and regular international competitions. The bidding process for the 2026 edition of the flagship women's event will open in the next weeks. Club Competitions  Updates were presented to the Central Board on the Basketball Champions League (BCL) sixth season, with Quarter-Finals starting on April 5. Status reports were also received on the current Basketball Champions League Americas (BCLA) third season, with Quarter-Finals starting on April 6, and the Basketball Africa League, which tipped off on March 5 in Senegal.   A report was also given on the FIBA Intercontinental Cup 2022 which was played for the first time in Africa, in Egypt, from February 11 to 13. It was also the first time in basketball history that a club competition featured teams from four different regional leagues. Flamengo, from Brazil, was crowned the winner.    Impact of the situation in Ukraine Following the recent decision by FIBA on Russian teams and officials, the Central Board approved the proposal to maintain the current protective measures in place until mid-May, when a new evaluation of the situation and appropriate decisions can be made.    Safeguarding of players The Central Board has approved the creation of the FIBA Safeguarding Council. The FIBA Safeguarding Council will act as an advisory body to FIBA on matters related to safeguarding and protection of vulnerable groups of basketball participants. It will also provide advice on helping to ensure a safe environment for all FIBA stakeholders is in place and address other relevant matters. HRH Prince Feisal Al Hussein, IOC member and President of the National Olympic Committee of Jordan, has been appointed as the Founding Chairman of the Safeguarding Council.   Other Matters The Central Board heard from the FIBA Foundation on its current Basketball For Good programs and Cultural Heritage activities. The Foundation's planned projects for 2022 and activities linked to the FIBA 90th anniversary celebrations were also presented. Progress reports were given on FIBA's current strategic priorities for the cycle: Empower National Federations, Women in Basketball and Enlarge FIBA Family. The Central Board approved the FIBA Consolidated Financial Statements for 2021.  Draw results in for FIBA U17 Women's Basketball World Cup 2022 MARCH 22, 2022 BUDAPEST (Hungary) - The groups for the FIBA U17 Women's Basketball World Cup 2022 were confirmed in Tuesday's draw in Budapest, Hungary, with the participating nations finding out who they are up against for the sixth edition of the event. The teams were divided into four groups of four teams each, with the hosts Hungary drawn together with Mexico, Asia 2 and Europe ? in Group A, and the four-time champions and 2018 title-holders United States to face Germany, Mali and Asia 4 in Group B. The results of the draw are as follows: Group A: Mexico, Hungary, Europe?* and Asia 2** Group B: Asia 1, France, Argentina and Slovenia Group C: Egypt, Canada, Spain and Asia 3 Group D: Germany, USA, Mali and Asia 4 *Following FIBA's recent decision on Russia teams, the Group A features a European team with "?". FIBA will determine in due course which team from the FIBA U16 Women’s European Challenger 2021 will participate in the FIBA U17 Women’s Basketball World Cup 2022. **The four teams from the Asia/Oceania Region will be determined later this year at the FIBA U16 Women’s Asian Championship scheduled to take place June 24-30. All 16 teams participating in the event will advance to the competition’s Final Phase with a single-elimination format in place from the Round of 16 onwards. The teams from Group A will face teams from Group B, based on standings within these groups (1st vs 4th - 2nd vs 3rd) and teams from Group C will face teams from Group D. The defending champions USA will be shooting for their fifth U17 women's World Cup crown in the sixth tournament. The Americans’ only loss in the history of the event came to eventual champions Australia in the 2016 Semi-Finals, where the USA finished third. The draw was performed by former Hungarian international Timea Beres, while FIBA Secretary General Andreas Zagklis also attended the ceremony. The 2022 edition of the tournament will take place from July 9-17 in Debrecen, Hungary.   CHICAGO’S THOMPSON FINED   NEW YORK, March 26, 2022 – Chicago Bulls forward-center Tristan Thompson has been fined $20,000 for directing profane language toward a game official, it was announced today by Byron Spruell, President, League Operations.   Thompson received two technical fouls and was ejected with 21.2 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter of the Bulls’ 126-109 loss to the New Orleans Pelicans on March 24 at Smoothie King Center.   MINNESOTA’S PRINCE FINED   NEW YORK, March 27, 2022 – Minnesota Timberwolves forward Taurean Prince has been fined $15,000 for making an obscene gesture on the playing court, it was announced today by Byron Spruell, President, League Operations.   The incident occurred at the conclusion of the third quarter during the Timberwolves’ 116-95 win over the Dallas Mavericks on March 25 at Target Center.    NEW YORK’S RANDLE FINED   NEW YORK, March 22, 2022 – New York Knicks forward Julius Randle has been fined $40,000 for directing hostile language toward a game official, it was announced today by Byron Spruell, President, League Operations.   The incident occurred following the Knicks’ 108-93 loss to the Utah Jazz on March 20 at Madison Square Garden.  GOLDEN STATE’S GREEN FINED   NEW YORK, March 22, 2022 – Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green has been fined $25,000 for directing profane language toward a game official, it was announced today by Byron Spruell, President, League Operations.   Green received two technical fouls and was ejected with 6:50 remaining in the third quarter of the Warriors’ 110-108 loss to the San Antonio Spurs on March 20 at Chase Center.   PORTLAND’S NURKIC FINED NEW YORK, March 22, 2022 – Portland Trail Blazers center Jusuf Nurkic has been fined $40,000 for confronting a fan courtside and grabbing the fan’s cell phone and throwing it into the spectator stands, it was announced today by Byron Spruell, President, League Operations.   The incident occurred following the Trail Blazers’ 129-98 loss to the Indiana Pacers on March 20 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. MINNESOTA’S BEVERLEY AND MILWAUKEE’S HILL FINED NEW YORK, March 22, 2022 – Minnesota Timberwolves guard Patrick Beverley has been fined $20,000 and Milwaukee Bucks guard George Hill has been fined $15,000 for their roles in an on-court altercation, it was announced today by Byron Spruell, President, League Operations.   Following a free throw attempt, Minnesota’s Taurean Prince and Milwaukee’s Serge Ibaka became entangled while jockeying for rebounding position. Beverley entered and escalated the altercation by shoving Ibaka from behind. Hill then continued the altercation by shoving Beverley.   The incident, for which Beverley and Hill each received a technical foul and were ejected, occurred with 2:11 remaining in the first quarter of the Timberwolves’ 138-119 victory over the Bucks on March 19 at Target Center.   To view the incident, click on the following link: https://www.nba.com/watch/video/bucks-vs-timberwolves-03-19-22