16
Jun
FIBA World Cup
The eight players ready for 'ferocious' 3x3 tournament
Alex Wilson reacts after the team's defeat in the Women's 3x3 Basketball Pool Round match between Team Australia and Team Spain on day seven of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 at Esplanade Des Invalides on August 02, 2024 in Paris, France. Photo by Lintao Zhang/Getty Images
The Gangurrus line-up to represent Australia at the FIBA 3x3 Women’s Series has been announced
- Australia's men's 3x3 team are chasing World Cup gold after winning the 2025 Asia Cup
- Australia's women's 3x3 team is stacked with WNBL experience
- How to watch every 2025 NBL1 game live and free with Bounce Pass
Australian 2025 FIBA 3x3 Asia Cup gold medallists Jonah Antonio, Alex Higgins-Titsha and Dillon Stith are "smart and ready" to face the 3x3 World Cup Group of Death in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, between June 23 and 29, 2025.
The Gangurrus golden men's trio have a new teammate with Josh Davey being named as the Gangurrus fourth player.
The men's team is in Pool A alongside six-time champions and world No.1 Serbia, as well as Belgium, Germany and Madagascar.
Head coach Adam Forde, who just returned as head coach of the Cairns Taipans, said the team’s success gave them a clear focus for the World Cup.
"Picking this group was important as we’ve built some good momentum,” Forde said.
"The Champions Cup was a successful campaign for us, and it gave us insight into how some of the best countries in the world play.
"Then we had success winning gold at the Asia Cup and those two campaigns have given us a clear game plan for what we need to do to be successful."
Forde admitted the Gangurrus would need to set the tone from the first game given the toughness of their draw.
“It’s a tough pool, and as a lower seed, there are no easy games. 3x3 is unforgiving if you think you can just ease into games and find your rhythm," he said.
"But our group is smart and ready, we know we need to come out of the gates firing.”
Meanwhile, Anneli Maley, Marena Whittle, Alex Wilson and Miela Sowah are chasing World Cup glory after being selected to the women's team.
Head coach Damon Lowery said the group’s training camp was one of the most competitive he’d be a part of.
“3x3 is ferocious," he said.
"It exposes both your strengths and your mental cracks, and I like to see what players are made of once those cracks are exposed.
“We need athletes who can play a dynamic, relentless brand of basketball, and who can stay composed when the pressure hits.”
The women’s team will open their campaign in a clash against world No.1 China in Pool A, with Poland, Italy and Madagascar also in their group.
Fresh from an intensive training camp in Melbourne, the women’s team is shaping up to be a blend of experience, energy and cohesion.
Maley, Whittle and Wilson bring a history of shared success, while rising star Miela Sowah has impressed in all of her 3x3 campaigns.
Maley and Sowah have been key signings in the WNBL Free Agency period, with Sowah moving to Townsville and Maley returning to the Perth Lynx.
Lowery said the existing connection between Maley, Whittle and Wilson, gave the team a solid foundation.
“Cohesion is critical. You don’t get time to 'figure it out' during games," he added.
"These three have been building the Gangurrus name for years, and they still have the hunger.”
Lowery was confident Sowah would be a difference-maker had earned her place in the team.
"Anybody who knows Miela, knows she’s the highest of high energy, and she’s a bucket," he said.
"The girl can flat-out score. Great attitude, great teammate, and she’s had a lot of reps lately."
Men's Team
- Alex Higgins-Titsha
- Dillon Stith
- Jonah Antonio
- Josh Davey
Coach: Adam Forde
Women's Team
- Anneli Maley
- Alex Wilson
- Marena Whittle
- Miela Sowah
Coach: Damon Lowery
