Edmonton Masters Recap

Author

Princeton3x3
July 31, 2023

Welcome to the latest edition of The Drive! This is your inside pass into the world of 3×3, where we bring you behind-the-scenes access, game updates, and all the latest news straight from the court.

Today we are recapping the Masters event in Edmonton and a quality showing from Princeton 3×3 team.

Henry Folger Caruso, Zahir Carrington, Tyrone Nash, Damon Huffman

Final result

Overview

  • 4th Place

  • $16,000 Prize

Bracket

Highlights

Princeton summary

Zahir Carrington and Tyrone Nash protect the rim

Princeton had a slow start in the Edmonton Masters, suffering a 16-9 loss to Amsterdam during pool play. However, they quickly turned things around, securing an 18-10 win against Toronto and earning a spot in the knock-out stage. Making it out of pool play was a significant achievement for Princeton, as they had only accomplished this once in the previous four events on the Circuit.

In the quarter-finals, Princeton showcased their defensive prowess and jumped to an early 8-0 lead against Steve Sir and Ulaanbaatar. Henry Folger Caruso led the charge with seven consecutive points to start the game. The team limited Steve Sir, Canada’s top-rated player, to just 2 points on 2-8 shooting. This convincing victory set Princeton up for a showdown against the world's #1 team, Ub, in the semi-finals.

The semi-final match against Ub was a hard-fought battle, with Princeton taking an early 4-2 lead before Ub responded with an 8-2 scoring run, putting them ahead 10-6. Princeton fought back to tie the game at 13-13 with 3:54 remaining. However, with 3:11 left on the clock, Princeton's seventh team foul proved costly as Ub capitalized on 5 free throws down the stretch to secure a 21-17 victory (watch the replay).

Princeton’s Tournament Leaders

  • Points: Henry Folger Caruso (6.3 PPG)

  • Rebounds: Henry Folger Caruso (8.5 RPG)

  • Blocks: Zahir Carrington (1), Tyrone Nash (1)

  • Shooting Efficiency: Tyrone Nash (0.62)

Caruso was a force on the glass, leading the tournament with 8.5 rebounds per game. He also led the tournament with 23 total defensive rebounds and 11 offensive rebounds.

Tournament summary

The Edmonton Masters witnessed Ub's continued dominance as they clinched their fifth consecutive Masters title to start the 2023 season. Led by tournament MVP Strahinja Stojacic, the Serbian team showcased their impressive 3x3 skills and continues to be the team to beat.

Washington DC, who lost to San Juan in the semi-finals took home 3rd. After losing to Ub in the semis, Princeton was rooting for DC to beat San Juan because that would have not only helped the federation, but it would have also meant 3rd place for Princeton and a $22,000 prize instead of $16,000.

The tournament was a resounding success, with Edmonton hosting several men's teams from the Americas. In addition to the men's competition, the event also featured the USA women's team, with Canada ultimately emerging as the Women's Series Edmonton Stop champion after defeating the USA in the semi-finals. Damon Huffman was on double duty this weekend, both playing for Princeton and coaching the USA women’s team.

FIBA's agreement with Edmonton to host a Masters event for the next five years further solidified the city's reputation as a top-notch host for 3x3 basketball tournaments.

Upcoming Princeton schedule

Thanks for reading!