Adam Rifau Abdul Raheem
The Maldives’ national 3×3 basketball teams are competing in the 8th FIBA 3×3 Asia Cup, which tipped off today in Singapore. Both the men’s and women’s teams are competing at the tournament’s qualifying round.
The Maldives men’s team is grouped with Kazakhstan, Iran, and Papua New Guinea. The squad consists of Abdhullah Amzar Mohamed, Mohamed Khuwailid Ali, Mafaz Mohamed, and Ismail Vildhan Yoosuf.
In their opening match against Iran, the Maldives suffered a 21-9 defeat. Despite the loss, Mafaz Mohamed stood out, scoring 6 points for the team. They will now face Papua New Guinea tomorrow at 11:00 AM, followed by a crucial match against Kazakhstan at 4:20 PM.
The Maldives women’s 3×3 team features Aminath Shiura Abdul Bari, Zuha Ashraf, Raisha Ibrahim, and Aminath Inasha. The team played two matches today but faced tough defeats against Kazakhstan and Vietnam. They will take on Iran tomorrow at 10:10 AM in their final qualifying round match.
To advance to the quarterfinals, teams must finish first or second in their group. While the women’s team is out of contention, the men’s team still has a slim chance of qualifying if they secure strong results in their remaining games.
The games of FIBA Asia 3×3 Cup is broadcasted live on FIBA 3×3 Basketball Youtube Channel.
