Antwerp rule Shibuya City Challenger 2026, punch ticket to Zadar

SHIBUYA (Japan) – Antwerp stamped their authority on the FIBA 3x3 Shibuya Challenger 2026, powering past a stacked field to claim the title and headline a trio of teams booking their spots at the World Tour Chengdu. In a tournament filled with tight finishes and statement runs, Antwerp rose above the chaos behind a balanced attack and clutch execution when it mattered most.

The Winner: Antwerp

Antwerp were locked in from the knockout rounds and never looked back. After pulling off a statement 18-15 Quarter-Finals win over powerhouse Ub, they showed composure in a tense semifinal, edging Valencia Basket 18-16 behind Dennis Donkor’s 9-point effort.

In the final, Antwerp left no doubt. Jonas Foerts led the charge as they took control early and never relinquished it, cruising to a convincing 22-15 win. Their mix of physical defense, timely outside shooting, and composure under pressure proved too much for every opponent.

Foerts’ MVP performance capped a dominant campaign, while Donkor provided consistent firepower throughout.

The Runner-up: Shanghai

Shanghai showed grit all tournament long, building momentum with wins over Valencia Basket and Toronto before surviving a thriller in the semifinals.

Cameron Forte anchored the team with his inside presence and scoring touch, including a huge 9-point outing in their 21-19 Semi-Finals win over Fuengirola ESP. Shanghai showed resilience time and again, especially in clutch moments, but ultimately fell short against a red-hot Antwerp side in the final.

The Final

The Shibuya Challenger Final started with Antwerp asserting control early, building a 9-4 lead midway through the contest. Shanghai tried to stay within striking distance, but foul trouble slowed their momentum.

Foerts delivered the dagger moments, stretching the lead to 17-9 late as Antwerp imposed their physicality on both ends. Shanghai couldn’t recover, and Antwerp closed things out in style, 22-15, to secure the title.

The Reward

With the victory, Antwerp, alongside Shanghai and Fuengirola, secured qualification to the FIBA 3x3 World Tour Zadar 2026.

Final Standings:

1. Antwerp BEL - qualified to WT Zadar
2. Shanghai CHN - qualified to WT Zadar
3. Fuengirola ESP - qualified to WT Zadar
4. Valencia Basket
5. Ub

Top Scorers

1. Iván Aurrecoechea (Valencia Basket ) – 39 pts
2. Cameron Forte (Shanghai) – 34 pts
3. Jonas Foerts (Antwerp) – 33 pts
4. Dennis Donkor (Antwerp) – 31 pts
5. Karlis Lasmanis (Shanghai) – 25 pts

FIBA