London 3x3 top Pool D with statement win

London edge out highly ranked Toronto in a gruelling affair to reach Sunday’s playoffs after finishing the pool stage with a perfect record.

London close out their second matchup 12-11 in a low scoring and cagey affair with both sides trading defensive stops throughout. For London 3x3’s new all-British roster this is a hugely encouraging performance as they limited the world number eleven to only eleven points in the ten-minute period. Their intensity on defence makes it clear to the rest of the tour that they mean business and will pose a serious challenge to any side.

Jamell Anderson set the tone early defensively with a steal and a forced turnover and London never let up. They forced eight turnovers throughout the game whilst Anderson and Khalfani Hill both produced key blocks which had significant magnitude considering the low scoreline for both sides.   

Offensively, Veron Eze picked up where he left off and once again finished with the most points for the British side with a game-high seven points. Crucially, London did not rely solely on his output as Eze also found Ashley Hamilton as he bulldozed his way to the rim and finished one opportunity with a trademark Hamilton dunk. Anderson and Hill added interior scores of their own to keep the scoreboard ticking over.

Toronto posed a strong interior threat, with Westher Molteni dominating the glass with twelve rebounds and Carlos Zesati adding five points inside. However, they were unable to find any rhythm from beyond the arc, going scoreless from fourteen attempts in a testament to London’s relentless defensive pressure.

London now turn their attention to Sunday’s elimination games where they will face Valencia in the quarterfinals. Ranked outside the top 20 in the world, Valencia arrive as a dangerous opponent, with Spanish 3x3 continuing to rise in strength over the past year. Their ranking may not fully reflect their quality and after finishing behind Shanghai in Pool B, they will present a formidable test.