Singapore produce giant-killing win over Lugano to reach 3×3.EXE Super Premier q-finals

In the David versus Goliath affair, Singapore played solid defence against their more physically imposing opponents. Ching stood out with nine points, including two two-pointers to help his team establish an 18-14 lead. Lugano reduced the deficit to 18-17 with 15 seconds remaining in the 10-minute match, but could not find another basket.

In their second game, Singapore suffered a 21-19 overtime defeat by Japan’s Shonan Seaside, who fell 22-9 to Lugano and failed to progress to the last eight as they had the least average points in Group B.

Displaying the high standards they have set for themselves, Nur Aufa said: “We played well, especially in the first game, but fatigue got to us in the second game, and we didn’t execute at the end.

“We missed too many free throws, too many twos and lay-ups. We missed three game-winning shots. That’s unacceptable.”

Head coach Lazar Rasic believes players will only gain from this pain, so that “they remember the moment and next time recognise the situation on the court”.

Meanwhile, the Singapore men’s Under-23 team suffered two narrow Group C defeats, losing 21-20 to Australia’s Brisbane 3×3 before falling 20-18 in overtime to Japan’s Zethree Ishikawa. They failed to win any of their six games across the three stops.

Rasic, who also oversees the Singapore U-23s, noted: “Today we had two tough losses, which is still an improvement compared to the last two stops. Definitely, they are reacting. It’s just that in crucial moments, we are soft.”

There has been a fresh wave of optimism around Singapore 3×3 basketball following a surprise silver at the 2025 SEA Games, when the men’s team stunned powerhouses from the Philippines in the group stage.

Their men’s and women’s teams also qualified for the July 23-Aug 2 Commonwealth Games and are in the running to compete at the Sept 19-Oct 4 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan.

After the conclusion of the Super Premier series, local 3×3 basketball fans can still savour more top-level action and support the Singapore teams at the April 1-5 Fiba 3×3 Asia Cup and the April 11-12 Fiba 3×3 World Cup Qualifier that will be held at The Kallang’s OCBC Square.