Powerhouse Poland looking to bounce back at FIBA 3x3 Women's Series 2022 Sukhbaatar Stop

SUKHBAATAR (Mongolia) - Powerhouse Poland will be determined to recapture their best form at the FIBA 3x3 Women's Series 2022 Sukhbaatar Stop on August 5-6. 

The No.2 seed will be hoping to shrug off a disappointing showing in Prague in the seventh stop on the women's pro circuit, which returns to 3x3 crazy Mongolia. 

The Favorites

No.2 seed Poland are locked and loaded with stars Aldona Morawiec and Klaudia Sosnowska, who were part of the team's quarter-final run at the Crelan FIBA 3x3 World Cup 2022

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by FIBA3x3W (@fiba3x3w)

 

But Poland struggled at the recent Prague Stop, where they exited on Day 1 after a heartbreaking OT loss to Switzerland then falling to China, who are in the draw in Sukhbaatar. 

Poland are hoping a return to Mongolia will provide a spark after they made the semis of the Ulaanbaatar Stop, but they are without Dominika Owczarzak who was a one-woman wrecking ball. 

Poland loom as the team to beat in Pool B but Pool A is headlined by No.1 seed Germany and FIBA 3x3 Asia Cup 2022 gold medalist China, who continued their strong form with a semi-final finish in Prague. 

China, who also won bronze at the World Cup 2022, will be without deadly duo ZhiTang Zhang and Lili Wang, but don't underestimate them because they have a wealth of talent. 

20-year-old sensation Kun Huang was part of the victorious Asia Cup line-up and now she gets a chance to play the lead role. 

Top seed Germany will be out for revenge after being thrashed by China at the World Cup although they have a totally different line-up and are missing the top two ranked players in the world - Sonja Greinacher and Luana Rodefeld. 

Young gun Emma Eichmeyer was part of Germany's quarter-final run in Edmonton and the 22-year-old is hoped to go up a level after being handed the keys. 

Hungary have had limited opportunities this season but made up for lost time with a pair of semi-final finishes. Klaudia Papp and  Vivi Borondy pack a deadly one-two punch and Hungary loom as a serious contender if the duo get going. 

The Field

Die hard Mongolian fans are going to lose their voice in the bleachers and you just know that will fire up the trio of local teams. 

It's been a tough season for the highly-fancied Mongolian teams on the women's pro circuit but they are aiming for a famous victory on home soil.

Led by their Olympic hero Khulan Onolbaatar, Mongolia might represent their best hopes for a title although they couldn't get out of the pool stage in Ulaanbaatar. 

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Khulan Onolbaatar (@_khulan)

 

No.3 seed Ulaanbaatar Amazons reached the quarters in Ulaanbaatar but the new commercial team went backwards after being unable to get out of pool play in Prague.

Still, you just can't write off a team with Canadian recruit Rashida Timbilla while speedy 23-year-old  Minjin Ganbat also loves scorching the net.

Rounding out their teams is the Mongolia U23 side brimming with talent, especially 20-year-old Gerelmaa Batmunkh who is one to keen an eye out for. 

In such an open field, don't underestimate Romania who have shown flashes of magic this season, particularly 3x3 legend Ancuţa Stoenescu who can turn the half court into video game mode when she's feeling it. 

Pools

Pool A: Germany, China, Mongolia, Hungary 
Pool B: Poland, Ulaanbaatar Amazons (MGL), Romania, Mongolia U23

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by FIBA3x3W (@fiba3x3w)

 

 How to watch

The two-day extravaganza is on August 5-6 and you can follow it live on the FIBA 3x3 YouTube and Facebook pages.

FIBA