The European Universities 3x3 Basketball Championship 2023 came to an end in Debrecen on Wednesday evening with a great Closing ceremony!

Both men's and women's winning teams of last year's European Universities Games 2022 in Lodz were happy after the final of this years Championship, as well.

The European universities champion in the women's competition was Vasyl Stefanyk University (UKR) after they won an exciting final match against University of Pitesti from Romania with result 19-16. The women from the Vasyl Stefanyk University won the gold medal with a flawless performance, winning all seven of their matches. 

The Most Valuable Player of the tournament, Veronika Kosmach (Vasyl Stefanyk University), said:
"We would like to thank everyone who cheered for us, we heard the support. Also thanks to the organizers of the tournament, who gave us the opportunity to show who we are, our university and Ukraine in general. We are very overwhelmed with emotions, we are very tired but also very happy. See you next year!"

The bronze medal in the women's competition went to the students of the University of Lyon from France.

In the men's competition, the defending champions, Vytautas Magnus University from Lithuania, also took home the gold medal. They also had an unblemished record throughout, and in the final they beating Ukraine's Sumy State Universty with final result 21-10.

The MVP of the men's tournament and winner of the shootout contest, Titas Janusevicius from Vytautas Magnus University, said:
„Really big and beautiful university that Debrecen have, and the people are so friendly. Throughout this tournament we have focused on title-defending results. We said before the tournament that we wanted the gold medal or nothing else.”

The men's bronze medal went to University of Valencia (ESP). 

The five-day European Universities Championship, which took place in front of the Main Building of the University of Debrecen, was also a qualification tournament for the FISU 3x3 World Championships in the autumn, for which both the men's and women's gold medalists qualified.

At the closing ceremony on Wednesday evening, the representative of the European University Sports Association (EUSA), Mr Ilan Kowalsky, presented a commemorative plaque for the great organisation to event coordinator Ms Kata Varga and Mr Károly Pető, Vice-Rector of the University of Debrecen.

The organizing University of Debrecen took over the costs of the two Ukrainian teams participating in the European 3x3 University Basketball Championship, thus supporting the athletes of the war-torn country. 

Mr Ilan Kowalsky EUSA representative, said:
„First of all about the local OC, they are in the business of 3x3 basketball for a long time. Really, it was organised very well. And I have to say thank you for Mr Laszlo Balogh, for all the volunteers, for all the students and for EUSA Delegation. They together have done an excellent work.” See you next year, at the 2024 European Universities Games in Debrecen and Miskolc!”

Final standings in women competition:

1st place: Vasyl Stefanyk Precarpathian National University (UKR)
2nd place: University of Pitesti (ROU)
3rd place: University of Lyon (FRA)

Final standings in men competition:

1st place: Vytautas Magnus University (LTU)

2nd place: Sumy State University (UKR)

3rd place: University of Valencia (ESP)

Other important awards were also given:

Fair Play Award:

Women: University of Debrecen (HUN)
Men: University of Paris 8 - Vincennes - Saint-Denis (FRA)

Best Scorer:

Women: Clarisse Legrand from University of Lyon (FRA)

Men: Segev Grylak from Ruppin College (ISR)

Most Valuable Player:

Women: Veronica Kosmach from Vasyl Stefanyk Precarpathian National University (UKR)

Men: Titas Janusevicius from Vytautas Magnus University (LTU)

Dunk contest:

László Komma from Corvinus University (HUN)

Shootout contest:

Women: Paula Corrochano from Polytechnic University of Madrid (ESP)

Men: Titas Janusevicius from Vytautas Magnus University (LTU)

The Team of the Tournament:

Women: Clarisse Legrand (University of Lyon), Ioana Andreea Ghizila (University of Pitesti), Veronica Kosmach (Vasyl Stefanik University)

Men: Titas Janusevicius (Vytautas Magnus University), Illia Kabatsiura (Sumy State University), Pablo Luengo Mateo (University of Valencia)

The EUSA flag was passed to representatives of the University of Ljubljana, Slovenia, which will be the next organisers of the European Universities Championship in 3x3 Basketball, taking place from June 28th until July 2, 2025. 

3x3 Basketball will also be one of the sports present on the sports program of next years European Universities Games 2024 in Debrecen and Miskolc, Hungary.

For more information about the European Universities 3x3 Basketball Championship, please see https://3x3basketball2023.eusa.eu/