FIBA 3×3 World Cup: Zama Optimistic As Uganda Aim At Group Stages

March 28, 2019
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Jamila ‘Zama’ Nansinkombi is positive and confident that Uganda (Women team) will qualify to the 2019 FIBA 3×3 World Cup which takes place in Amsterdam, Netherland on June 18-23.

To reach the glamorous World event, Uganda must negotiate past other eight opponents in the upcoming qualifiers set in San Juan, Puerto Rico on May 4-5.

This, will be the first ever FIBA 3×3 World Cup Qualifiers and Uganda has been placed in Pot A alongside Estonia, Australia and hosts Puerto Rico. Pool B has Brazil, Spain, New Zealand and Mali.

Uganda will seek to occupy the first three top spots overall (out of eight nations) to qualify to the World Cup.

Uganda’s Women Team, the 3×3 Gazelles are in Pool A

In an exclusive interview with SportsNation, the JKL star player said:

“We can make it if we get adequate preparations, we just have to hold our workouts in time.

“We don’t know how some teams in our group are playing but we will play to compete not just to participate, and give our country our best.”

Uganda Seek For Third Return

Uganda will be targeting third appearance at the World Cup after previous encounters in 2014 and 2018.

In 2014 in Russia, Uganda finished at the round of 16. Claire Lamunu, Judith Nansobya, Becky Nassiwa and Winnie Anyago represented.

Uganda lost 21-10 against eventual semifinalists Czech Republic at the round of 16 after finishing fourth in Pool B.

In 2018 in Philippines, Uganda finished 12th overall, after coming third in a tough Pool C, losing to USA and Russia but beat up on Iran and Andora.

L-R: Sarah, Zama, Imani and Claire. FIBA

Claire Lamunu, Jamila Nansinkombi, Ritah Imanishimwe and Sarah Ageno represented.

Uganda will take four players in Puerto Rico for the qualifiers, with the 2018 representatives in contention to fill the slots again, if not, Zainah Lokamweri (UCU Lady Canons) and Hope Akello (JKL Lady Dolphins) may fill the void.

Format of Qualification:

17 teams have already qualified for the World Cup, and have also been grouped. Only three slots are still blank, waiting for the top 3 that will come out of the Puerto Rico qualifiers.

Three slots are still available for the World Cup in Netherlands.

The qualification process in Puerto Rico, as revealed by FIBA

The pool winners are directly qualified for the Semi-Finals and the 2nd- and 3rd-placed teams in each pool will play a Quarter-Final with the winners advancing to the Semi-Finals.

The winners of the Semi-Finals will be qualified directly to the FIBA 3×3 World Cup 2019, while the losers of the Semi-Finals will play a final game for the final spot in the FIBA 3×3 World Cup. 2019, which takes place in Amsterdam, Netherlands on June 18-23.

Uganda will face Australia on May 4, before playing Australia and Puerto Rico the following day.