Riga of Latvia celebrates after winning the Fiba 3×3 World Tour Cebu Masters championship.
CEBU – Riga survived Antwerp in the thrilling final, 21-19, to dominate the Chooks-to-Go Fiba 3×3 World Tour Cebu Masters 2022, Sunday night at SM Seaside City.
Nauris Miezis scored the Latvian team’s final seven points, including the game-winning free throw to just 4.8 seconds as he saved his team from a catastrophic melee that left them behind. when leading six early.
The 2020 World Tour Player of the Year ended with 10 points and 3 rebounds, eventually claiming the MVP title of the tournament at home.
“I think I was born for this moment,” Miezis said of the heroes of his last game that took home the world’s fourth-placed team the top prize of $40,000.
Karlis Lasmanis contributed six points while Edgars Krumins and Agnus Cavars combined to make five marks for Riga, who has now claimed his second World Tour stoppage title this season after conquering the Montreal Masters in September last year.
“It was a tough game – always against Antwerp,” said Miezis. “Minutes ago, we had our game in our hands. I’m glad we won.”
Thibaut Vervoort led Antwerp with seven points and four rebounds in the loss as the Belgian side failed to secure a second World Tour stop this season after dominating the Debrecen Masters last August.
Vervoort was the one to put his team 17-14 ahead with 1:25 left, but they couldn’t hold out when Miezis took over.
Dennis Donkor provided five points, Nick Celis had four, while Bryan De Valck took three for world third.
Meanwhile, Piotr Grabowski emerged as the king of the Cebu Masters Slam Dunk competition after betting David Carlos of the Philippines in the final. Highflyer from Poland took home $4,000 in the win.
On the other hand, Vervoort was honored as the best marksman after winning the Shooting Competition. He scored 14 points defeating Mac Tallo of Cebu Chooks, Steve Sir of Ulaanbaatar and Chico Lanete of Manila Chooks.
Scores:
Riga 21 – Miezis 10, Lasmanis 6, Krumins 3, Cavars 2.
Antwerp 19 – Vervoort 7, Donkor 5, Celis 4, De Valck 3.
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