Road to Shibuya

London 3x3 open their 2026 FIBA 3x3 Pro Circuit campaign at the Shibuya Challenger in Japan as the fifth seeded team, in a first test for the new look British squad.

London 3x3 look to make their mark at the Shibuya Challenger in their first event since winning the 2025 Deqing Masters, which capped off an inaugural season on the World Tour in style. Since then, the team has undergone an exciting period of transformation in which the transition of ownership has enabled London 3x3 to represent British basketball interests internationally and field a squad of top British talent.

London 3x3 welcomes Jamell Anderson to the side as he brings a wealth of winning experience, including a Commonwealth Games gold medal from England’s 2022 triumph. The team also welcomes Veron Eze and Khalfani Hill who add depth and versatility to the squad with their established capabilities on the international stage. These three join the battle tested Ashley Hamilton who completes the British outfit making the trip to Japan, with Evan Walshe set to rejoin the team for later competitions.

Preparations for the Challenger are now complete following a successful camp accommodated by London 3x3’s preparation partner, UEL, at their SportsDock facility. Although this is a new look roster, the British squad travelling to Shibuya have used this period effectively to build cohesion, with invaluable support from UEL and from The London Sports Festival delivered by Central London Alliance, who hosted the players for a team building padel session at their amazing court in the heart of London.

London 3x3’s first matchup gets under way on Saturday at 7:35 am BST as they are set to face the winner of Friday’s Qualifying Draw B, which features Crvena Zvezda, Warsaw and Perth. London’s second and final game in Pool B is against the eleventh ranked in the world Toronto, at 9:35 am BST the same day. With all teams entering the Shibuya Challenger as their first competition on the FIBA 3x3 World Tour this season, there is a degree of unpredictability around how sides will match up. London will be keen to assert themselves early, particularly against a highly ranked opponent such as Toronto to set the tone early for their season long campaign.

Elsewhere in the draw, reigning world champions Ub once again stand as the team to beat, with a target firmly on their backs from the outset. The remainder of the field brings added intrigue, with several emerging and less experienced teams all eager to make their mark on the tour. With three places at the FIBA 3x3 Zadar Masters up for grabs, the Shibuya Challenger presents a valuable opportunity for London 3x3 to reassert themselves on the global stage, this time with a uniquely British identity and flair.