Serbia Stun Olympic Champions Netherlands to Reach 3x3 World Cup Semifinal in Warsaw

A buzzer-beating basket from Nemanja Barać, assisted by world number one Strahinja Stojačić, sent Serbia past the Netherlands 21–19 in the quarterfinals of the FIBA 3x3 World Cup, putting the six-time champions one win from a seventh title.

Warsaw, Poland – June 6, 2026: Serbia are through to the semifinals of the FIBA 3x3 World Cup after a tense 21–19 victory over the Netherlands in the quarterfinals on Saturday in Warsaw. Nemanja Barać delivered the decisive basket in the final seconds, converting an assist from Strahinja Stojačić — the world's top-ranked 3x3 player — to send the six-time champions into the last four.

The win was far from comfortable. The Netherlands, who won Olympic gold at Paris 2024 in dramatic fashion and entered Warsaw as defending 3x3 Olympic champions, threatened a major upset by building leads of 11–8 and 13–9. Serbia's tournament pedigree ultimately proved the difference as they gradually clawed back the deficit before Barać's winner sealed it in the closing seconds.

Stojačić was the creative engine throughout, pulling strings for Serbia just as he had done in the group stage. The 30-year-old, who missed last year's edition in Ulaanbaatar where Spain claimed the title, has looked determined in Warsaw. He contributed nine points in Serbia's group-stage defeat of Spain — the reigning world champions — a result that sent an early signal about the tournament's likely hierarchy.

Serbia's path to the semifinal through the group phase was dominant. They opened with a 21–14 victory over Madagascar, Nenad Nerandžić top-scoring with 10 points. Back-to-back wins over Spain (16–12), Australia (20–16) and Austria (21–11) completed a perfect pool record, confirming Serbia as the tournament's most consistent side.

Their semifinal opponent will be determined by the result of the Latvia versus Lithuania quarterfinal match. Both are experienced 3x3 nations with strong individual performers; Latvia, in particular, are regular contenders at this level. Serbia will be slight favourites regardless of who emerges.

The FIBA 3x3 World Cup is the discipline's flagship event and this year's edition in Warsaw — the 10th in the competition's history — carries additional weight as a qualification pathway for the LA28 Olympics. For Serbia, a seventh world title would add to the most decorated men's record in the sport's history.