London battle in physical showdown which sees Sao Paulo DC prevail

Capital trio show flashes of brilliance but can’t overcome sharp-shooting Sao Paulo DC in decisive Group D clash.

London 3x3 entered their final Group D matchup against Sao Paulo knowing it was win or go home. With Partizan already assured of progression, the stakes couldn’t have been higher. Despite a spirited performance and plenty of highlight moments, London fell 21-15 to the Brazilian qualifiers, ending their Brasilia campaign.

Credit: FIBA 3x3. London's Evan Walshe, Ryan Langborg & Ashley Hamilton at the Brasilia Challenger.

Sao Paulo came out of the gates with energy and physicality, setting an aggressive tone. Ashley Hamilton found himself on the floor more times than could be counted as Sao Paulo became emboldened by early offensive successes. While London battled to match the intensity, the early damage proved telling.

The Brazilians’ edge came from long range. Rafael Moreira Da Silva lit up the court with five two-pointers, stretching London’s defence and forcing them to tire whilst closing out deep on every possession. Even though Sao Paulo found themselves in early foul trouble as a result of their physicality, their shooting gave them a cushion on the scoreboard that London couldn’t quite reel in.

True to form, London never stopped fighting. In the closing stages, they pieced together a mini-comeback with a crafty layup from Evan Walshe, a trademark Hamilton dunk, and sharp finishing inside from Ryan Langborg. The burst gave London hope, but Sao Paulo had already built too much of a buffer and sealed the game by hitting the 21 mark with time to spare.

As in their opener against Partizan, London often looked the more creative team, producing three more highlight plays than their opponents. Hamilton’s dunks, Walshe’s drives and Langborg’s mid-range touch all showcased the team’s talent, but fatigue again played a decisive role. With no substitute available across the tournament, London couldn’t match the rebounding and relentlessness of a side that rotated fresh legs throughout and were hungry for a high profile win.

Though the scoreboard didn’t fall in their favour, London leave Brasília having demonstrated resilience, flair, and glimpses of the level they can reach at full strength against two strong sides. London 3x3 can begin preparation for their next outing at the Mataro Challenger with the knowledge that returning to a full strength squad will improve their fortunes.