Skip to content

Shines Bright: A Recap of FIBA 3×3 Asia Cup 2024 Triumphs and Challenges

Kudos to Malaysia’s Men’s 3×3 Basketball Team! Making waves and leaving their mark on the courts of the recent FIBA Asia Cup held in Singapore, our team has soared to new heights, clinching a commendable 9th place. Amidst fierce competition and intense matchups, Malaysia’s finest athletes showcased unparalleled skill, determination, and sportsmanship, earning well-deserved recognition on the regional stage.

The tournament showcased some of the best players in the country, including the NS Matrix Deers and the star player of the Malaysian national team, Ting Chun Hong, together with Lee Jia Jun, Leong Zhen Kang and Ooi Xian Fu, who currently rank among the top three players on the FIBA 3×3 Ranking leaderboard in Malaysia. On the other hand, Hiew Ky Lie, Wong Chah Yee, Nur Adila, and Toh Ke Hui represent the Women’s Category, aiming for a quarter-final ticket in Pool C as the 6th seed team from last year.

Before the FIBA 3×3 Asia Cup 2024, the Men travelled to China to participate in the China Dragon 3×3 – Stop 3, one of the highest-ranking 3×3 games in FIBA 3×3 events, to build better team chemistry.

During the preliminary round on March 27-28, Malaysia started off strong, leading by at least 6 points against Macau, Maldives, and India to secure the top position in Pool D with three consecutive wins in the Qualifying Draw D. Players like Ting Chun Hong and Lee Jia Jun were unstoppable with their perimeter shots and impressive passing, making them part of the top 10 plays in the FIBA 3×3 Asia Cup 2024.
Advancing from Pool D was no easy task for the Malaysian Team, as Leong Zhen Kang and his teammates showcased great defence against one of the finalists in the FIBA 3×3 Asia Cup 2024, New Zealand, who had taller and bigger players in the paint. Despite this, Malaysia demonstrated efficient shooting and stifled New Zealand in a spectacular performance, leading by 4 points earlier in the game as Ooi Xian Fu scored four 2-point shots without hesitation, pushing the Malaysia Team into overtime in the first game of Pool D. However, New Zealand survived the tough encounter against Malaysia with a game-winning shot by Chris Mclntosh, securing a 21-19 win in sudden-death overtime.
After a tense and physical game against New Zealand, the Malaysian Team faced Qatar with short-term stamina recovery. Lee Jia Jun registered 8 points with his consistent shooting performance of the tournament, leading the Malaysia team to fight till the end in clutch time, supported by 8 offensive rebounds from Ting Chun Hong and Ooi Xian Fu, showcasing Malaysia’s competitiveness. Foul trouble became a big issue for the Malaysia Team, while Qatar shot better in the paint, with Mohammaed Abbasher scoring 9 points. Qatar beat Malaysia with a score of 16-15, eliminating Malaysia from the quarter-finals game.

As one of the seeded teams, our women’s category was well prepared by training in the Philippines and playing games there. Nonetheless, the Malaysian team lost two consecutive games, 21-4 against Mongolia, who earned the first-ever bronze medal in FIBA 3×3 Asia Cup 2024, and 10-17 against the Philippines, who showed better play and defence in the rivalry against Malaysia. Both games were hampered by poor shooting performance. However, the Women’s team showed better defence and offence in the second game in Singapore, with Hiew Ky Lie and Toh Ke Hui each scoring 5 points, respectively.

We extend our heartfelt appreciation to the team members and all our dedicated Malaysia basketball fans for their continuous support. 3×3 games have just started in Malaysia, and players still need to improve. With your ongoing encouragement and involvement, we look forward to achieving greater success in the future.