Canada won gold in female and male tournaments in the opening World Basketball Basketball Championship 3×3 on Sunday in Sun City, South Africa.
Canadian women completed an undefeated race with a 17-12 victory over Spain in the final, going 6-0 in the three-day event.
Canada’s women’s team is composed of Kady Dandeneau from Pender Island, BC, Tamara Steeves of Mississauga, Ontario, Elodie Tessier de Saint-Germain de Grantham, which., And Toronto’s Puisand Lai.
“Spain came out incredibly physical, we knew they would do it. They were hitting chairs and, in our face, at all times,” Dandeneau said. “I think we kept our composure and we still compete with them and we stayed with what we have been doing, which is playing our game.”
Dandeneau was appointed MVP of the tournament, while Tessier collected the honors of the stars of the tournament.
“I think being any kind of world champion is quite sweet,” Dandeneau added. “To do it for the first time, it is history.”
Look at Canada to face Spain in the final of the World Women’s Women’s Championship IWBF 3×3 by Sun City, South Africa.
Canada surpassed Great Britain 15-10 in the semifinals earlier in the day, while Spain beat Australia 9-7 to reach the final.
The Canadians also defeated Spain at its inauguration, 14-7.
Kady Dandeneau de Pender Island has represented Canada at the Paralympic Games and won gold at the Commonwealth Games. In a month, he will represent his country in the first World Basketball Championship 3×3 Basketball in South Africa. Dandeneau spoke with CBC on the coast how the 3×3 format offers a lower entry barrier for many athletes.
The Canadian male team won their historical world title by overcoming Spain 14-9 later on Sunday, avenging their only loss of the tournament.
Canada fell 18-12 against the Spaniards on Friday in their second game after encountering missing problems.
Canada is represented by Vincent Dallaire of the city of Quebec, Colin Higgins of Rothesay, NB, Lee Mleymick of Toronto and Garrett Ostepchuk of Regina.
“Super great experience,” said Higgins, who was named MVP of the tournament. “We knew that Spain was going to be difficult; they won us in the pool game, so we knew we didn’t have much to lose. We went out, we hit a couple of shots and won the game.
“My teammates are amazing,” he added. “They worked very hard, it is incredible to see them rewarded, hitting some cubes today and stealing the victory.”
The Canadians advanced to the game of the gold medal before with their second closed victory over Austria in Worlds, taking semifinal 13-12. Canada opened the tournament with a 17-15 victory in extra time over the Austrians on Friday, with Higgins scoring the decisive points.
Canada, who was 6-1 in Sun City, surpassed Australia 12-9 in the quarterfinals on Saturday.
Look at Canada to face Spain in the final of the IWBF 3×3 IWBF 3X3 of Sun City, South Africa Open Men’s Championship.
Organized by South Africa wheelchair basketball, the Open IWBF 3×3 2025 World Championship celebrates 3×3 wheelchair basketball growth and offers smaller nations the opportunity to shine on the global stage.
This is the second 3×3 event for the basketball equipment in wheelchair in Canada. The women won gold and men took money in the debut of sport at the Games of the Commonwealth 2022 in Birmingham, England.
