TORONTO, Ont. (March 30, 2023) - Team Toronto claimed the FIBA 3x3 Pro League Netherlands 2023 Winter Edition Final earlier this month in Amsterdam, thanks to a 21-19 victory over Team Amsterdam in the Final.

The win helped Team Toronto — comprising of Bikramjit Gill, Dele Ogundokun, Alex Johnson, Nem Mitrovic and Jordan Jensen-Whyte — punch their ticket to the World Tour Macau Masters, which is set for July 8-9, 2023 and will serve as the third of 13 stops on the 2023 FIBA 3x3 World Tour schedule.

“It puts us in an unbelievable place,” said Darcy Coss, coach of Team Toronto.

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The 3x3 Pro League Netherlands 2023 Winter Edition, comprised of three tour stops (tournaments), leading to a Final event.  Placing fifth in the first stop, and second in each of the next two stops, the team earned a spot into the Final event.  Moving through the knockout stage by defeating Jerusalem (Israel) in the quarter-finals and Paramaribo (Netherlands) in the semi-finals, the stage was set with the No. 6 ranked 3x3 team in the World, Team Amsterdam. 

With the game tied at 19-19, and the first team to 21 picking up the win, Team Toronto decided in a timeout to try and end the game right there. Johnson stepped up and knocked it down from beyond the arc to defeat Team Amsterdam for the first time in the tournament after falling in each of the last three games.

“We went for the win. It was a crazy shot,” said Coss.

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After missing a game-winning three in the semifinal of the 2022 Commonwealth Games this past summer which ultimately denied Canada a berth in the gold medal game, Johnson got his redemption in Amsterdam.

“For what we’re trying to do, starting a new team, playing one of the best teams in the world, in their gym — all that — for him to come through and hit that shot, it was a monkey off the back for him," said Coss, reflecting back on the Commonwealth Games run, where Gill, Jensen-Whyte and Johnson all suited up for Team Canada.

The trio have came together with Team Toronto, with the goal of helping Canada earning a berth in the Olympic Qualifying Tournament for the 2024 Olympic Games in mind. 

According to Coss, after seeing the set up of 3x3 teams across the world — such as Team Amsterdam — and recognized a set up requiring a cohesive, consistent team to build chemistry.

"That's one of the best teams in the world, they practice all the time, we were in their training centre — we were able to beat them. It was a super big win just in terms of establishing ourselves and moving forward into the season," said Coss.

“We were able to spend nine days together playing in four tournaments. It’s completely expedited our development. It’s helped us establish our systems and protocols so we can stay on top of the game and continue to get better," said Coss, something he believes displays the potential for 3x3 basketball in the country as a whole.

“[Canada has] the talent to have some of the best teams in the world in the 3x3 pro circuit,” said Coss.

Yet all roads ultimately lead to Paris and the upcoming Olympics, which are only a little more than a year away.

“Whatever we can do to put Canada in the position to qualify for the Olympic Qualifying Tournament is kind of always in the back of my mind as far as what our main goal is," said Coss.

When Nov. 1, 2023 arrives, the top 15 federations will earn spots in the Olympic Qualifying Tournament with the top 3 teams from the OQT earning a berth into the Paris Olympics. 

"The job of any Canadian that's playing FIBA 3x3 right now is to amass as many points before Nov. 1. That's going to dictate our federation's ranking, which right now, is 15th in the world — however, the season hasn't started," said Coss.

The 2023 FIBA 3x3 World Tour gets underway next month on April 29 in Utsunomiya, Japan. And while Coss and Co. won't participate, they will be travelling to Lausanne, Switzerland in three weeks time in an attempt to qualify for another upcoming FIBA 3x3 World Tour stop, where a top-two finish would grant them a spot in the World Tour Manila Masters, the second event of the season.

"To simplify it, we have to get into as many high-level events as possible, and we have to do as best as we can," said Coss.