Within the compact confines of a 3×3 basketball court, individual players have no place to hide both their flaws and their talents. For ten minutes, there is nowhere to disappear, and scarcely any bench to turn to when fatigue sets in, with at most one substitute for the three starters to share, as compared to seven substitutes for five starters in the full-court game. The recent four FIBA 3×3 Asia Cups showcased this unforgiving reality, but it also provided the perfect stage for transcendent players to shine. Beyond the usual stars who brought their fame and reputations to the big stage, a few hoopers managed to etch their names into the tournament’s folklore over the years, each bringing a unique style that captivated fans and transformed the competition. Here are six breakout stars who came into Singapore as relative unknowns, but left as fan favourites and a focal point of any opponent’s game plan.

Rattiyakorn Udomsuk (Thailand)

The Thailand star was already a one-woman wrecking crew back in 2023, with her scoring exploits at the regional and continental level, but ‘Junny’ was undoubtedly the breakout player of the FIBA 3×3 Asia Cup as she left the tournament as a household name. Team Jumpshot had the privilege of witnessing her game up close during her stint as an import with our squad, and she showcased her talents to everyone else in Singapore as she quickly became the number one target for any team unlucky enough to go up against Thailand.

The willowy forward has a strong, assertive game that defies her frame, with the ability to score on any defender at any given time. What makes Junny particularly devastating is her versatility. Standing at 1.74m, she possesses the perimeter skills of a guard combined with the post awareness of a traditional forward. Defenders who give her space quickly regret it as her quick-release jumper has become nearly automatic from two-point range. Those who press up find themselves victims of her first step and efficient finishing around the rim.

Beyond her scoring prowess, two things set Udomsuk apart. First, her trademark intensity is a joy to watch on both the offensive and defensive ends, as exemplified by her hard-fought battle with the equally-lanky and versatile but taller and bigger Khulan Onolbaatar as Thailand fought to steal a big win over Mongolia to seal their place in the knockout stages for the 2025 edition of the event. Second, her superpower is perhaps her clutch play. Throughout the tournaments, Junny has demonstrated an uncanny knack for elevating her game in crucial moments, and seemingly transforms from merely elite to absolutely transcendent in the biggest moments. As she prepares to represent her country in next year’s FIBA 3×3 Asia Cup, opponents would be wise to start preparing their defensive strategies now.

Negin Rasoulipour (Iran)

The all-rounded Rasoulipour is clearly the lynchpin for her team. In taking up point guard duties for Team Iran, the guard is not short on confidence or skills, often showing off her ability to shoot the ball or get to the basket. What separates Rasoulipour from other guards in the tournament is her exceptional court vision and playmaking precision. She processes the game at a different speed than most opponents, consistently finding passing angles that others simply do not see. 

Her mastery of the pick-and-roll game, in particular, has become the cornerstone of Iran’s offensive system. Rasoulipour navigates screens with surgical precision, keeping defenders constantly guessing whether she will attack the rim, pull up for a mid-range jumper, or deliver a pinpoint pass to her rolling teammate. Her chemistry with Iran’s screeners has produced some of the tournament’s most efficient offensive sequences, while she puts on a masterclass in manipulating defenders with her eyes and body positioning game after game.

What makes Rasoulipour’s playmaking even more impressive is her patience. In a game format that naturally encourages quick decisions, she displays remarkable composure, often letting plays develop fully before making her move. She will probe defenses with her dribble, drawing multiple defenders before finding the open teammate for an easy basket. This calculated approach has given Iran’s offense a rhythmic quality that many opponents have struggled to disrupt. As Iran seeks to build up on their impressive play thus far in the next edition of the FIBA 3×3 Asia cup, Rasoulipour’s playmaking will remain the engine that drives their offense. Basketball connoisseurs will surely be looking forward to seeing how she can elevate her team, having already established herself as one of the premier floor generals in Asian basketball.

Khulan Onolbaatar (Mongolia)

Two modern, multi-faceted players fought it out for the last spot on the women’s side, with an honourable mention going out to Chinese Taipei’s Chen Yu-Chieh, whose positioning and ability to switch on defense and whose timing, shooting and facilitation skills on offense combine to help her hold the fort for her team even as an undersized big. However, the Mongolian women’s greater successes in the standings (including a podium finish last year) meant that more eyes were on their star naturally. As the focal point of Mongolia’s offense, Khulan Onolbaatar has mobility and handles in spades, even at 1.80m tall, and is often relied upon by her team to attack her defender one-on-one, creating mismatches with her combination of size and skill.

Onolbaatar defies traditional positional constraints with a playing style that has become the blueprint for the modern 3×3 player. While many players of her stature focus on screen-setting, shooting and some post play, she operates comfortably from anywhere on the court, making her perhaps the tournament’s most difficult matchup problem. Her ball-handling ability is striking, with dribble moves and an outside stroke typically associated with much shorter players, routinely breaking down defenders with crossovers and behind-the-back manoeuvres before launching her jumpshot. At the same time, she is not afraid to establish position and bang down low if a smaller defender gets caught on the switch, instinctively recognising mismatches and exploiting them without hesitation. Against teams that switch too quickly, she methodically hunts the most favourable matchup, forcing opponents to either concede an advantage or commit additional defenders, creating opportunities for her teammates.

As 3×3 basketball continues to evolve globally, Onolbaatar represents the vanguard of positional versatility that is rapidly becoming the standard at the highest levels of competition. Traditional basketball archetypes simply do not apply to her game – she’s not a guard, not a forward, but rather a basketball player in the purest sense, capable of excelling in any role her team requires.

Tomoya Ochiai (Japan)

Over the years, ‘The Worm’ became an iconic presence at the FIBA 3×3 Asia Cup. As a mainstay of 3×3 action and the Japanese national squad, Ochiai has a unique game that is defined by his heady play and tough hustle. He is always ready to mix it up, defending and rebounding like a man possessed, almost as a homage to his nickname, but he also mixes in a few flashy highlight-reel passes in just about every game that he plays.

What makes Ochiai a cult figure in Asian 3×3 basketball circles isn’t just his game – it’s the unbridled intensity with which he approaches every second on the court. Despite his relative lack of height at his position, he more than compensates with a motor that never seems to idle, fighting for every loose ball and every rebound to energise his team and to maximise their chances of winning. His rebounding technique is a masterclass in leverage, positioning, and timing, and allows him to thrive on the boards as well. 

While his hustle plays generate the most attention, Ochiai’s basketball intelligence might be his most valuable asset. He processes the game at an elite level, consistently making the right defensive rotations and anticipating offensive movements before they develop. This anticipatory quality has made him one of the tournament’s premier disruptors on defense, while he operates primarily as a facilitator on offense, using his quickness and court vision to create opportunities for teammates. His passing has a theatrical quality – behind-the-back dishes while in motion and no-look feeds to cutters that clearly belong on ESPN, yet rarely coming at the expense of efficiency, as he manages to keep his turnovers low. As the ultimate ‘glue guy’, the immensely-adaptable Ochiai can impact the game in myriad ways which cannot even be captured on the traditional box score. Although he will already be 38 years old next years, fans will not want to count out the return of #91, as Japan seeks to make it to the podium in 2026.

Harsh Dagar (India)

Coming into the tournament, few outside dedicated 3×3 circles were familiar with India’s young stars. By the championship’s conclusion, their names were on everyone’s lips and their highlights were furiously circulating across social media platforms, as the fans became enamoured by their explosive, acrobatic play, and their endless assaults on the rim. Although Arvind Muthu Krishnan’s eye-catching blend of creativity and craft or Pranav Prince’s insane length and athleticism stood out as well, Dagar was perhaps the most memorable performer on this very young squad, as he led the way in scoring by living up to his name, launching daggers in his opponents’ hearts in almost every game.

What made his performance particularly compelling was the context – representing a nation still establishing itself in international basketball, carrying the weight of a country’s growing basketball aspirations on his shoulders. He responded with fearlessness that bordered on audacity. No shot seemed too ambitious, no moment too big. His crossover pull-up became one of the most recognisable signature move, leaving defenders lunging at air before he rose up for his smooth jumper or accelerated to the rim.

Having achieved a new high with their Goliath-slaying exploits in FIBA 3×3 Asia Cup 2025, the boys from India will be aiming even higher next time round, befitting the air of confidence that they bring into every game. They may be too young to realise where they are supposed to stand in 3×3 basketball, and that may turn out to be their biggest advantage as they seek to take down the would-be powerhouses within the region.

Kelvin Lim (Singapore)

While the big teams traditionally garner the most scrutiny and attention, the most transformative performance of the entire tournament may have come from our very own Kelvin Lim, who continues to elevate Singapore’s 3×3 basketball to unprecedented heights. Even at the risk of ‘homer’ accusations, it would not be too far-fetched to proclaim the 1.91m forward as the revelation of the tournament, as his heroics led the Lions to a historic-best performance in 2025.

Although his scoring percentages tell the story of ruthless efficiency, what impressed local fans most was his aggression and fearlessness, with his precisely-timed drives that left defenders reaching at shadows. Displaying dazzling athleticism and one of the best first steps in Asian 3×3 basketball, Kelvin is often past his defender before they can even react, showing that he clearly belongs among the region’s elite despite our nation’s prior reputation as also-rans within the basketball domain. Over the last two years, he has also shown a markedly improved understanding of rhythm and tempo – knowing exactly when to accelerate, when to pull back, when to attack, akin to a talented conductor of the Singaporean offense.

Most notably, Singaporean fans will never forget the toughness and heart he displayed as he came back within minutes from a sprained ankle to continue to fight against powerhouses Japan in the 2025 quarterfinals. Although the team went down 21-17 in the end with some clutch shot-making from the incomparable sniper Ryo Ozawa, there was clearly honour in the defeat as our boys pushed their talented opponents right to the edge before falling shot. Beyond the statistics and highlights, Kelvin and the team’s impact extended to growing the passion for basketball within Singapore. Attendance at our games increased noticeably as the tournament progressed over the years, with many young kids in the stands donning our signature red and clamouring for the players’ autographs or high-fives. There is little doubt that these performances played a part in FIBA’s decision to host more high-level 3×3 competitions in Singapore in the coming years, which will include our maiden showing at the FIBA 3×3 World Cup in 2027.

As the FIBA 3×3 Asia Cup concluded its fourth year in Singapore, these six players represented different facets of basketball excellence – tactical intelligence, defensive tenacity, scoring efficiency, fearless confidence, and transformative skill. Together, they elevated the tournament beyond a mere competition, transforming it into a showcase of basketball artistry that have sparked a craze for 3×3 basketball within our island nation as well as the continent at large.

In the accelerated, concentrated format of 3×3 basketball, individual brilliance is brought to the forefront. These six stars not only embraced the spotlight – they amplified it, leaving an indelible mark on 3×3 basketball’s evolving story.