Day 3 Recap – Rhine-Ruhr 2025 World University Games (3×3 Basketball)

Bochum, Germany – 19 July 2025

Play-in and quarter-final action took centre stage in the 3×3 basketball competition on Day 3 of the World University Games, with both South African teams facing world-class opposition and ultimately bowing out of the tournament. While the results didn’t go their way, there were valuable lessons learnt and clear indicators of the skillsets required to compete at this level at in this game format moving forward.

Women – South Africa vs Hungary

South Africa’s women faced a stern challenge in their Play-in encounter against a clinical and well-organised Hungarian outfit. Hungary dominated from the outset, using sharp ball rotation and excellent shooting accuracy to establish an early advantage. Panna Zsámár led the scoring with 6 points and 4 rebounds, while Krisztina Baksa contributed 5 points and 3 steals as the Hungarians maintained constant pressure on the South African defence.

Despite showing flashes of potential in transition, South Africa struggled to convert scoring opportunities against a disciplined defensive unit. Roxanne Makgato led the South African effort with 3 points and 2 rebounds, but Hungary’s momentum carried them to a convincing 21–6 win.

Men – South Africa vs Czechia

In the men’s Play-in fixture, South Africa delivered a spirited performance against Czechia but were unable to recover from an early setback. The Czech side capitalised on efficient perimeter shooting and physical presence inside the paint, with Jan Novák leading the charge with 7 points and 5 rebounds. Ondřej Kovář added 5 points and 2 assists to control the pace of the game.

Thulani Ndlovu top-scored for South Africa with 4 points and 2 rebounds, anchoring a determined team effort. However, Czechia remained composed down the stretch and closed out a 21–9 victory, ending South Africa’s campaign but providing the team with crucial learnings to take back home.