Pierce shines as London fall to eventual tournament champions

Justin Pierce marked his London return with a scoring masterclass, but Vienna matched his brilliance with an offensive showcase of their own.

Credit: FIBA 3x3. Justin Pierce rocks the rim in Debrecen.

Reeling from a shock defeat to a red-hot Marbella, Vienna entered their clash with London staring at the prospect of an early exit. London, meanwhile, had the chance to seal their place in the next round by dealing Vienna a second loss with a pool game still to spare.

Wasting no time in opening London’s campaign, Justin Pierce found his spot and drilled an open midrange jump shot. This was just the start for Pierce as he went on to finish with a game high six, one-pointers. Pierce showcased his full versatility and athleticism as he racked up five highlight plays, including a soaring two-handed dunk and a tough finish through contact that sent him to the charity stripe to add the extra point.

Despite continuing last week’s impressive form from inside the arc, London couldn’t find the answer to their ongoing woes from outside. This again proved the decisive factor, as Vienna showed why they belong in the world top ten, converting ten more points from beyond the perimeter than London.

Vienna’s Quincy Diggs highlighted the difference, lacing two step-back twos. The first was answered by Ashley Hamilton with one of his own, but the second delivered the final blow as a late Evan Walshe contribution couldn’t spark a threatening London comeback.

Hamilton found ways to score, joining Pierce on seven points, while Desrosiers made his presence felt with steals, a block and smart distribution. He set up Hamilton for a rim-shaking dunk and Pierce for an and-one finish, though London’s turnovers proved costly, committing eight across the ten-minute period.

The relentless Enis Murati consistently found his way to the basket, leading all scorers with nine points and committing no turnovers. While Justin Pierce once again showcased his elite scoring touch, London ultimately came up short, heading into their final pool game still searching for a statement win to propel them into the knockout stages.

London 16 – 21 Vienna.