Number one seeded London face tricky hosts in Mataro

London falter in opening Pool A matchup in a physical contest.

London 3x3 entered the Mataro Challenger as the number one seeded team with a point to prove following a challenging spell mid-season. Playing in front of a packed-out crowd, they were keen to prevent an upset in a tournament which had already seen number two seeded Carolina fall to Rome in the previous matchup.

London started promisingly with snappy ball movement and had every appearance of a team that meant business. A string of fouls ensued with both teams adding to the penalty column but neither contributing to the points, culminating with Ashley Hamilton being pulled to the ground. Mataro drew first blood as Francisco Teban worked the pick and roll, converting an open layup.

London fought back with physicality of their own as Justin Pierce brought down a hard-fought rebound from his own two-point attempt as Mataro conceded yet another foul to add to a rapidly growing tally. London couldn’t find a way to use this to their advantage and only ended up at the charity stripe three times, as Mataro escaped punishment despite committing their seventh foul with over half the game remaining. Offensively, Mataro were less successful on the interior than London, who only missed twice from one-point range.

However, the difference between the sides proved to be efficiency from beyond the arc, as Mataro generated twelve points from only nine attempts whilst London struggled to find their rhythm. London showed promise in other areas, with Ryan Langborg finishing as the leading scorer and the team limiting Mataro to three offensive rebounds whilst claiming seven of their own. At 12-11 it seemed that London had found a path to victory by exploiting Hamilton’s physicality on the roll, but Mataro continued to foul before the shot attempt. Mataro continued to add points as the game stretched away from London, ending 21-14 in the hosts' favour.

London must look to start afresh as they face Ermont in a game that will decide their fate in the pool stage.