Graz, Austria, May 31, 2021: Olympic Games hosts Japan booked a place in the women’s 3x3 basketball tournament at Tokyo 2020 with a pulsating overtime victory over Spain in the FIBA 3x3 Olympic qualifying tournament on May 30.
Having lost 15-14 to France in the semi-finals, Japan needed to beat Spain in the third-place play-off to book the third and final ticket to Tokyo – and they did so 20-18 when tournament MVP Stephanie Mawuli drove to the basket for the Tissot Buzzer Beater.
Japan joined USA and France in the women’s event, while Poland, Netherlands and Latvia qualified from the men’s event.
France, USA and Japan join China, the Russian Olympic Committee, Romania and Mongolia, who had already qualified for the Olympics based on the FIBA 3x3 Federation Ranking on November 1, 2019.
Poland, the Netherlands and Latvia join Serbia, the Russian Olympic Committee, China and Japan, who had already secured their spot based on the FIBA 3x3 Federation Ranking on November 1, 2019.
The last spot in both categories will be decided at the FIBA 3x3 Universality Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Debrecen, Hungary, on June 4-6.
FINAL STANDINGS
MEN: 1 Poland, 2 Netherlands, 3 Latvia (all qualified); 10 Mongolia, 14 Qatar, 16 Korea, 19 Kazakhstan, 20 Philippines.
WOMEN: 1 United States, 2 France, 3 Japan (all qualified); 15 Indonesia, 16 Thailand, 17 Chinese Taipei, 19 Iran, 20 Sri Lanka.