Serbia's Ub Huishan NE will start the defence of their FIBA 3x3 World Tour title in Japan tomorrow ©FIBA

Defending champions Ub Huishan NE of Serbia will start their season with tough day one challenges as the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) 3x3 World Tour 2023 launches at the two-day Utsunomiya Opener in Japan that is due to start tomorrow.

Utsunomiya, which also hosted last year’s opener, will see the number one seeds, who were a dominant force last season, bring their awesome tram to Japan led by top-ranked player Strahinja Stojacic and the legendary Dejan Majstorovic.

But there will be a strong challenge from Miami, who boast some of the best players from the United States including former Princeton and Team USA stars Kareem Maddox and Canyon Barry, and ex-Omaha scoring specialist Dylan Travis.

They also have Jimmer Fredette, the massively popular former National Basketball Association player and college star.

Ub and Miami will meet in Pool A but do not discount Sansar MMC Energy, from Mongolia, who are led by the redoubtable Anand Ariunbold fresh from helping his country win the 3x3 Asia Cup.

The 2023 FIBA 3x3 World Tour gets underway at Utsunomiya in Japan tomorrow, with defending champions Ub Huishan NE likely to face a strong challenge from Miami ©FIBA
The 2023 FIBA 3x3 World Tour gets underway at Utsunomiya in Japan tomorrow, with defending champions Ub Huishan NE likely to face a strong challenge from Miami ©FIBA

Ariunbold and teammate Enkhbaatar Onolbaatar are not the only Mongolian Asia Cup gold medallists in Utsunomiya with Ulaanbaatar MMC Energy boasting MVP Delgernyam Davaasambuu, aka The Bull.

Raudondvaris Hoptrans of Lithuania are the second seeds.

It will not be a two-horse race in Pool B with Partizan of Serbia looming as a dark horse contender having finished second at last year's Prague Masters.

New-look Riga, of Latvia, headline Pool C.

They are without Karlis Lasmanis and Nauris Miezis this season but have signed speedy Miroslav Pasajlic and talented Chinese 25-year-old Xingrui Wu.

Riga's new era will face an early test against the always consistent Amsterdam HiPro of The Netherlands, who boast Worthy de Jong.

Meanwhile Utsunomiya BREX enter their home event on a high after upsetting a loaded field at the FIBA 3x3 Ulaanbaatar Super Quest 2023.

Pool D is highlighted by a clash between Vienna of Austria and Antwerp TOPdesk of Belgium.

The match-up between Vienna's Quincy Diggs - the top-ranked player in the United States - and defensive demon Dennis Donkor are expected to be worth watching.

The fourth team in Pool D will emerge from the qualifying draw between Yokohama BeefmanEXE of Japan, Sydney CLBEXE of Australia and Rosedale SwishEXE of New Zealand.