Gangurrus announced for 2025 FIBA 3x3 Asia Cup

Basketball Australia has announced the Gangurrus teams set to compete at the 2025 FIBA 3x3 Asia Cup, which returns for its fourth consecutive year in Singapore from 26-30 March.

The women’s team boasts a strong Perth Lynx presence, featuring Miela Sowah, Anneli Maley, and Alex Wilson, alongside Paris Olympian Marena Whittle, who is fresh off a 2024-25 season in the Spanish league.

On the men’s side, Cairns Taipans talent shines through with Alex Higgins-Titsha, Jonah Antonio, and Dillon Stith, joined by Tasmanian JackJumper Lachlan Barker.

Hannah Hank, Josh Davey, and Luke Jamieson will also travel with the team, contributing to their preparations ahead of the tournament.

In Pool C, the men's team will take on Japan, along with the winner of the Pool C Qualifying Division — one of Kazakhstan, Iran, Maldives, or Papua New Guinea.

Meanwhile, the women's team is set to compete in Pool D, facing the Philippines and the winner of the Pool D Qualifying Division, which will be decided between Indonesia, Turkmenistan, Macau, or Papua New Guinea.

Both teams are coming off strong campaigns at the recent 2025 FIBA 3x3 Champions Cup in Thailand, where they each secured third-place finishes.

Miela Sowah was a standout at the Champions Cup, earning a place on FIBA 3x3’s ‘Team of the Tournament’. With 2024 Paris Olympians  Maley, Wilson, and Whittle together again, Sowah is eager to learn from their 3x3 experience and contribute to the team’s chemistry.

"This group is so experienced—they’ve fought the hard yards and are complete professionals. They were unfortunate to not medal at the Olympics, but it’s ignited a deeper hunger in them all, which I’m excited to be a part of and learn from.

“I learnt so much [at the Champions Cup]. I think getting more experience in the 3x3 game created new scenarios I had never been in before, so it forced me to expand my IQ of the game which I’ll definitely take into Asia Cup. I also learnt that the game could turn around in seconds, you could be down by 4 like we were in our semi-final game against France with 3 minutes to go and come back to win it - vice versa. It’s never over!”

Sowah, Maley, and Wilson bring their strong connection from playing together with the Perth Lynx in the WNBL, where they concluded the 2024–25 season as semi-finalists together. 

"We know how each other plays, and we’ve gone through highs and lows together this season. That has not only strengthened our friendship and chemistry on court but also grown us as individual players. I think that is something we can draw on and bring forth to the team," Sowah added.

Dillon Stith delivered a breakout performance at the Champions Cup last week and described himself as fortunate when the American-born Australian represented the green and gold for the first time.  

“It comes with a huge sense of pride. Being a part of the basketball world in Australia for the past 10 years and seeing the growth that’s occurred has been a tremendous experience," Stith said.

"I have always enjoyed the 3x3 game, and to be on that stage against high-level competition was an opportunity. I knew with the skill set of my teammates, what I could provide was an aggressive, physical scoring mentality, rebounding presence, and a high level of communication. Essentially, I approached every game with a relentless mindset, doing whatever I could to impose those things onto the game, knowing it could help get us over the line.”

Stith, Antonio, and Alex Higgins-Titsha bring a strong on-court connection from their time together with the Cairns Taipans, which proved invaluable at the Champions Cup.

"The existing chemistry we have helped a tremendous amount, and when you can anticipate the movement of your teammate and know what the guy next to you will do on any given offensive or defensive possession, it makes a huge difference,” Stith added.

“The key now is taking those instincts and applying them to the unique styles and schemes of 3x3 basketball. There’s no doubt we respect and believe in each other—that’s first and foremost in 3x3, and it played a huge part in us bringing home the bronze.”

Now, all eyes are on the Gangurrus as they set their sights on defending their 3x3 Asia Cup titles.

"Our mindset is to be focused. Focused on the task at hand, each game. We definitely want to win, so that is the aim. 3x3 is a game where any team can win, so our aim is to be switched on the entire tournament and to do whatever we can to get that trophy—which will mean having to leave everything on the court,” said Sowah.

"Going back-to-back at the Asia Cup would be a great achievement, and simply put, that’s our goal, and we’re locked in on getting better day by day, building, learning, and seeing how far we can take this,” Stith added. 

View full schedule here

All games will be live streamed via FIBA 3x3 YouTube here.