"VAN" (Sports Desk - 27.04.2026) :: Liman (SRB) captured the FIBA 3x3 World Tour Utsunomiya Opener 2026 title after defeating Skyliners (GER), 21-15, at the Futaarayama Jinja Shrine to win the first stop of the new season.
Led by tournament MVP Andreja Milutinovic, Liman delivered a composed performance in the final, controlling the game with efficient scoring and defensive pressure to secure the trophy.
Milutinovic powers Liman to title
Liman set the tone early in the Final, building an 8-3 lead with strong shot-making before extending the margin to 12-4 midway through the contest.
Despite a response from Skyliners, who played their last two games without injured Leon Fertig, Liman maintained control. Back-to-back two-pointers from Niklas Kropp briefly cut the deficit, but Liman answered through key buckets, including a decisive two-pointer from Nemanja Zigon.
Milutinovic sealed the win with a putback to close the game at 21-15, capping a dominant run throughout the tournament.
Road to the title
Liman advanced to the Final with a commanding Semi-Finals performance and continued the same momentum from the Quarter-Finals.
In the Quarter-Finals, they delivered one of the most decisive results of the day, defeating defending champions Miami (USA), 20-8. Milutinovic led the way with 11 points, including consecutive two-pointers that broke the game open.
Milutinovic named MVP
Andreja Milutinovic was named Most Valuable Player after leading Liman throughout the tournament with consistent scoring and shot-making.
His performance in the knockout rounds, including his explosive Quarter-Finals display and a composed showing in the Final, underlined his importance to Liman’s title run.
Side events complete the show
Fans were also treated to standout performances in the event’s side competitions.
Hometown favorite Souleymane Coulibaly (Utsunomiya) won the Shootout Contest presented by Wilson with 14 points, drawing strong support from the local crowd.
In the Dunk Contest presented by Ashikaga Bank, Dmitry "Smoove" Krivenko delivered a series of high-level finishes, earning perfect scores on his final three dunks to take the title.
Celebration in Utsunomiya
The event marked a milestone for the host city, celebrating a decade of 3x3 basketball in Utsunomiya, as well as the 130th anniversary of the city.
As one of the most established stops on the circuit, Utsunomiya once again set the stage for the start of the FIBA 3x3 World Tour season.
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