 get wins over Rwanda and Egypt respectively to win the FIBA 3x3 Africa Cup 2024 on December 1. ){kind=link}
ANTANANARIVO (Madagascar) – Madagascar (men and women) get wins over Rwanda and Egypt respectively to win the FIBA 3×3 Africa Cup 2024 on December 1.
It was a dominant run from the men as they went unbeaten on their way to the final, last defeating a gritty Algerian side in the Semis. The team had been firing on all cylinders, led on offense by Elly Randriamampionona and Livio Ratianarivo but getting big contributions from the remaining duo.
The final against Rwanda was as one-sided as it gets. The home side couldn’t be stopped as they caught fire from deep. Livio, who had been unstoppable on the day, put up 11 points in the resounding result. The game turned into a result for the history books as Madagascar came away with a 22 – 3 victory.
The women’s side had a similar run of form, going unbeaten on their way to the final where they faced a strong Egypt side, a team they barely got the better of in pool play.
It was a back-and-forth game for the most part, but it was Minaoharisoa Jaofera whose all-round performance paved the way for a breakthrough. An 8-point, 6-rebound display sealed the deal for the home side as they secured the 20 – 15 result.
In the bronze medal games, the 2023 Africa Cup Gold medalists Kenya (women) got a win over Benin. Esther Ashley Minayo took over with a 10-point, 6-rebound game in a 20 – 11 victory.
The dynamic Algerians (men) finished an electric tournament with bronze over Benin in an 18 – 15 win. Scoring machine Chakib Sedoud put up 9 points and 7 rebounds in the winning effort.
Livio Ratianarivo was the offensive star of the tournament, he put up 24 points over 2 games on the final day, bookending a perfect display from Madagascar in this event. He took home MVP honors and led the men’s team of the tournament alongside Rwanda’s Olivier Turatsinze and Algeria’s Chakib Sedoud who were the key pieces in their teams medaling in Antananarivo.
Madagascar’s (women) Christiane Jaofera was the floor general for her side. She finished with a tournament-high player value of 32.9. Her output on both ends led the home side to the win. She won the MVP award, headlining the women’s team of the tournament with Egypt’s Habiba Mohamed and Kenya’s Christine Akinyi who were the driving forces for their teams as they finished with silver and bronze respectively.
Men’s standings
1. Madagascar
2. Rwanda
3. Algeria
4. Benin
5. Kenya
6. Mauritania
7. Seychelles
8. Central African Republic
9. Uganda
10. Egypt
Women’s standings
1. Madagascar
2. Egypt
3. Kenya
4. Benin
5. Rwanda
6. Uganda
7. Comoros
About FIBA 3×3
Exciting, urban and innovative, 3×3 is inspired by several forms of streetball played worldwide and is considered the world’s number one urban team sport. Steered by FIBA, games see two teams of three players face off on a basketball half-court.
It was played successfully for the first time in international competition at the 2010 Youth Olympic Games in Singapore and since then has benefited from the launch of a yearly professional circuit for men and women (World Tour and Women’s Series respectively) and national-team competitions. 3×3 made its Olympic debut at the Tokyo 2020 Games.
Credit: FIBA Press